If you think RGB LEDs dancing on your keyboard’s keys are distracting, you might want to look away from Finalmouse’s upcoming mechanical keyboard. The Finalmouse Centerpiece announced Saturday is a mechanical keyboard that has its own screen displaying animated images through the keyboard’s transparent keys and switches for a look that looks as dazzling as it entertains.
Finalmouse is known for manufacturing computer mice with detailed designs and, often, limited availability. It usually follows PC gamers looking for something unique and exclusive feeling for their setup. Now, Finalmouse announces its first keyboard that takes detailed design to a new level.
Finalmouse did not share many details on the screen running under the switches of the Center. We don’t know its exact size, brightness, resolution or refresh rate, for example. However, the display is said to be powered by “interactive skins” using Unreal Engine 5. It’s unclear how many skins the Centerpiece will launch with, but in its video, Finalmouse showed a variety of possibilities, from swimming koi fish that run away when. you press a key, to a rippling water effect, a lion grazing and 3D animations.
Mechanical keyboards are some of the most customizable peripherals you can find, but Finalmouse’s Center is much flashier than most, even Asus’ ROG Strix Flare II Animate, which has 312 customizable Mini-LEDs.
We’ve seen mechanical keyboards with a screen near the keys before, but the Center’s screen is front and center. As such, we can see that the animations are extremely entertaining, especially for non-touch typists and people playing competitive games. Cleverly, a brightness button on the side of the keyboard lets you turn off the screen.
Interestingly, Finalmouse says the Center uses its own CPU and GPU, so powering the display doesn’t use the connected system’s resources.
Finalmouse claimed that artists can submit skins to play on the Center screen and have the option to monetize them. However, no further details were provided. Finalmouse’s announcement said people will be able to submit different skins for the Centerpiece to use through a Finalmouse Steam app called The Freethinker Portal, allowing Centerpiece users to download designs and switch up to three via a dedicated switch on the side of the keyboard.
The Headpiece is said to rely on what Finalmouse calls its Laminated DisplayCircuit Glass Stack. As you might imagine, glass is not a material commonly used in mechanical keyboards. Inside an aluminum chassis, it should be properly protected; although there are still many questions about durability and how this all works. Finalmouse, of course, claims the keyboard is tough enough to withstand extreme use.
Further, the company claims that the glass stack is clamped with packets making for “typing acoustics and feel unlike any other.” Finalmouse’s announcement said the keyboard’s sound profile was described (it didn’t say by whom) as “soft marble raindrops,” but we’ll just have to hear it for ourselves to be sure that’s a good thing.
Beyond its wild display, the keyboard also uses mechanical switches based on Gateron’s linear Black Ink switches. The Gateron switch has 4mm of travel and operates with 60g of force. The switches in the Centerpiece keyboard should operate faster and have “slightly” different travel specifications, Finalmouse said. The company will also sell a version of the keyboard analog switches using Hall effect sensors, so that users can choose the switch point of the switches (somewhere within the total travel of the switch) themselves.
The Headpiece, with its truncated layout, unusual design (including keycaps with only side-printed legends), and high price, will be limited to those looking for a bold computer accessory to transform and dominate their layout and keep themselves or, perhaps, online viewers, enthralled . Finalmouse said the keyboard will be available early next year for $349.
You can see the video of Finalmouse showing the effects of the Center Table below:
Finalmouse Centerpiece Keyboard Reveal.
