Key Takeaways
1. Finalmouse’s Centerpiece is a 65% gaming keyboard with an integrated 2K display under clear polycarbonate keycaps, enhancing personalization and functionality.
2. The launch faced significant delays, with some customers waiting up to two years for their pre-orders; the keyboard is currently sold out and priced at $349.
3. The Centerpiece features custom Hall effect switches with a 55 gf actuation force and unique keycap design, not compatible with standard HE switches.
4. Users have reported blemishes and scratches on the keyboard’s top case upon arrival, which Finalmouse claims are temporary marks that disappear when the display is on.
5. Despite its advanced features, including adjustable actuation and high polling rates, customer satisfaction is mixed, particularly due to the premium pricing and quality concerns.
Mechanical keyboards with integrated screens aren’t exactly a fresh concept — previous models like the Gamakay TK75 v2 we’ve looked at utilize a small display to enhance personalization and show useful configuration details. However, Finalmouse aims to elevate the experience with the Centerpiece. This is a 65% gaming keyboard that also functions as a display. The screen is situated beneath the keycaps, which are made from clear polycarbonate. The idea is to not only provide visually appealing effects but also to create practical applications, such as showing alternative key mappings and frequently used shortcuts. After what feels like an eternity stuck in research and development, Finalmouse has finally begun to send out the initial batch of production units, as mentioned in a post on the company’s X account.
Delays and Expectations
Finalmouse first revealed the Centerpiece keyboard back in 2023, but the project has faced numerous delays since then, with some Founders pre-order customers waiting two years since the original pre-orders started. The launch itself has been far from smooth, with several issues in development and production that delayed the shipping date of this unique gaming keyboard. At present, the Finalmouse Centerpiece is sold out, but it will cost $349 when it becomes available again.
Key Features and Limitations
The Centerpiece keyboard includes a 2K display located beneath the clear Hall effect switches, and it features a custom keycap design with an integrated spring that claims to have a 55 gf actuation force. This bespoke solution was necessary to fit the display beneath the keys, but it also means you can’t use any standard HE switches, like the Gateron Magnetic Jade Pros (currently priced at $56 for 70 switches on Amazon).
While the Finalmouse Centerpiece promises a top-notch typing and gaming experience, boasting features like 0.1 mm adjustable actuation, rapid trigger, SOCD, and 8 kHz polling, there have been some complaints from users on social media, particularly Reddit. Some have reported that their keyboards arrived with what looks like blemishes and scratches on the top case. Finalmouse explains that these “scratches” are actually marks from the injection molding process and that they “completely disappear once the keyboard display is on.” However, not everyone is satisfied with this answer, especially considering the keyboard’s premium price tag.
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