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TechHive Editors Choice At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Sleek new design Impressive audio performance Packs Zigbee, Matter, and Amazon Sidewalk hubs Focuses on video chat participants Cons No privacy shutter Alexa+ is still a work in progress Spotty streaming video support Our Verdict Provided you’ve settled on the Alexa ecosystem, the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 is the smart display to get. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Amazon Echo Show 8 (fourth-generation, 2025) Retailer Price $149.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Amazon has a new crop of Echo devices designed specifically for its big AI revamp of Alexa, including a couple of new Echo speakers, the Echo Dot Max (which we’ve previously reviewed) and the Echo Studio (our review is in the works). Also in the mix are two Echo Show displays: the Echo Show 11 and the Echo Show 8, the latter of which we’re reviewing here.  With both of the new Echo Show displays, Amazon has served up sleek new spheroid designs for the base that make their displays appear to float in mid-air, and their sonics got makeovers as well. Under the hood, the Echo Show 8 ($179.99) has a new processor designed to make Alexa+ respond more quickly and accurately to the “Alexa” wake word, while new ambient sensor technologies help Alexa detect when someone’s in the room, and even who they are.  In terms of a mainstream smart display that you place in your kitchen or living room, the Amazon Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot. The Echo Show 8 is also an entertainment and communication device, capable of streaming movies and shows on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, cranking tunes, and letting you connect with far-flung friends and loved ones, either on voice calls or video chat.  But the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 isn’t perfect, and it drops a key feature that might give privacy-minded users pause.  Design  The most striking thing about the new Echo Show 8 (8.2 x 5 x 5.9 inches, WxDxH) is its design; quite simply, it’s gorgeous, and a massive improvement compared to its chunky-looking predecessor. Gone is the wedge-shaped design of older Echo Show displays (the third-gen Echo Show 8 at least adopted an edge-to-edge screen and rounded corners). The new Echo Show 8’s screen is now mounted on a spheroid base that makes the slim panel appear to float in space.  The spheroid design of the Echo Show 8 makes the screen look like it’s floating in space.Ben Patterson/Foundry This display itself measures 8.7 inches diagonally, with slimmer bezels than the previous Echo Show 8 and its 8-inch screen. The volume buttons are on the right edge of the display, right below a privacy button that mutes the microphone array and electronically deactivates the camera lens (which sits in the top bezel). Nice, but the fourth-gen Echo Show 8 loses a key privacy feature of the third-gen version: a physical for blocking the camera lens, meaning you might want to think twice before putting the display in your bedroom.  The 4th-gen Echo Show 8 looks great on its own, but it looks even better when paired with Amazon’s optional stand, a premium-looking metal accessory that magnetically snaps onto the bottom of the display’s base. The Echo Show 8 attaches to Amazon’s optional stand with the help of a strong magnet.Ben Patterson/Foundry The stand feels reassuringly heavy and solid, and it allows you to tilt the Echo Show 8 up to 40 degrees or spin it a full 360 degrees—and yes, you can spin the display without having to hold the stand down with your other hand. Even though it tacks an additional $40 to the Echo Show 8’s price tag, the optional stand is well worth the added expense.  Inside the Echo Show 8’s fabric-covered spheroid base is a custom AZ3 Pro processor that’s been specifically designed for Alexa+, along with a revamped speaker array that includes a pair of full-range drivers and a 2.8-inch woofer, an upgrade from the two drivers and the passive bass radiator in the previous generation. I’ll delve further into the Echo Show 8’s Alexa+ and audio performance in a bit.  You can tilt the Echo Show 8’s display up to 40 degrees and swivel it up to 360 degrees when the device is sitting on its optional stand.Ben Patterson/Foundry Setup  I’ve complained in the past about the process of setting up an Echo Show display—namely, you had to type in your Amazon email address and your password using the on-screen keyboard, a process that’s easy to screw up if you have a strong password. For a regular Echo speaker like the Echo Dot, the process is much more seamless, as the Alexa app will simply detect the speaker and connect it. Why couldn’t the same thing happen with an Echo Show display?  Well, I’m happy to report that since my review of the previous Echo Show 8 (circa 2023), Amazon has given the Echo Show connection process a serious upgrade. Now you simply scan a QR code on the Echo Show display using your phone, and the Alexa app handles the rest.   There are some privacy disclosures and EULAs you’ll need to check off, and you also must designate which room the Echo Show 8 will reside in. You’ll also need to enroll your face if you want Alexa to recognize you via the Echo Show’s camera; the process is similar to setting up Face ID on an iPhone and takes only a few minutes. (Because I had previously enrolled my face for the 3rd-gen Echo Show 8, I didn’t need to do it again for the new model.)  Say goodbye to the wedge-shaped design of earlier Echo Show displays, like the 3rd-gen Echo Show 8 (left).Ben Patterson/Foundry Overall, the Echo Show 8 setup process was a smooth one, and I had the display up and running in roughly five minutes.  Customizing the home screen  The Echo Show 8’s home screen can show a plethora of content, from slideshows of your snapshots and breaking news headlines to popular recipes, smart home controls, sports scores, and shopping recommendations—including sponsored products; i.e., advertisements.  The presence of ads on a device you’ve paid good money for is a vexing one, and in my early days with the Echo Show 8, I grew tired of seeing shopping ads pop up that were clearly based on my Amazon searches. For example, after an afternoon of shopping for VESA mounts on Amazon, I woke to find VESA mount ads on the Echo Show’s home screen.   Luckily, it’s easy to customize what you see on the home screen—and just as importantly, what you don’t want. Under the Settings menu you’ll find a Home Screen Categories section where you can toggle various home screen elements on or off. Disabling the Shopping category nixed the suggested products, for example, and you can also choose whether you want to see local or national news, sports headlines, stock market updates, weather reports, and so on. You can still ask Alexa for shopping recommendations after disabling the Shopping home screen category, but the shopping ads won’t be pushed at you anymore.  You can also add widgets to the home screen for a dashboard-style view of your calendar, weather updates, recently played music, and—perhaps best of all—smart home controls, perfect for giving you touch controls for your various lights, smart plugs, and other smart devices. Alexa is also willing and able to control your smart home, a topic we’ll get to in a moment.  Finally, the Echo Show can display slideshows of either curated images and artwork from Amazon or snapshots from your Amazon Photos library. You can change the speed at which the Show rotates through the images (anywhere from 6 to 24 seconds per slide) and whether your photos should be cropped, “smart” cropped (meaning the display picks the most “interesting” parts of your images to focus on), or shown in their entirety.   Personally, I don’t love the Echo Show in its digital photo frame mode as it tends to sandwich portrait-style images between thick bars, no matter what crop setting you pick. Google’s Nest Hubs have a better solution: they intelligently pair portrait photos side-by-side, thus avoiding the whole window-boxing issue.  I don’t love the window-boxing effect for portrait images on the Echo Show 8’s slideshow mode.Ben Patterson/Foundry Smart hub connectivity  The 4th-gen Echo Show 8’s smart home connectivity options are unchanged compared to the previous version. For starters, the display will act as a Zigbee smart home hub, ideal for connecting Zigbee-enabled devices such as smart bulbs, smart plugs, remotes, water leak sensors, and similar smart gadgets. The Echo Show 8 also packs a Thread border router, meaning it can connect Matter-enabled smart devices to the internet and to each other. And it’s also a bridge for Sidewalk, the Amazon-backed “neighborhood network” protocol that leverages nearby Echo speakers and Ring cameras to connect low-power and far-flung smart sensors and devices (including the new series of Sidewalk-enabled sensors that Ring announced at CES in January).  That’s a fairly comprehensive array of smart connectivity options, but it’s worth noting that the Echo Show 8 doesn’t support Z-Wave, a wireless smart home and security protocol with its own rich ecosystem of devices. (No other Echo devices offer a Z-Wave hub either, although Amazon’s Ring Alarm and Ring Alarm Pro home security systems do.) Also, unlike several other Echo speakers, including the Dot and the new Dot Max, the Echo Show 8 can’t be configured to operate as a network node when connected to one of Amazon’s Eero mesh Wi-Fi routers.  Smart sensors  The Echo Show 8 boasts a collection of onboard sensors that are mainly geared towards detecting when people are nearby—and, if you allow the display to do so, it can recognize who is near it, which is ideal for helping Alexa to give you personalized responses.   The Echo Show 8 offers a wide range of smart home connectivity options, along with on-screen smart home controls.Ben Patterson/Foundry Using an Amazon technology called Omnisense, and with the help of its camera and ambient temperature and light sensors, the Echo Show 8 can detect when people are in the room and act accordingly. For example, the Show can change the style of its on-screen interface, boosting the size of graphical elements when you’re further away and shrinking them as you approach, all the better for adding more details when you’re closer.   Omniverse can also help Alexa—and namely, Alexa+—recognize individuals in its vicinity, allowing it to tailor its responses (such as when you ask about upcoming calendar events). The technology can also trigger Alexa routines when people enter or leave the room, perfect for turning lights on and off based on room occupancy or queuing up a playlist when you arrive home from work.  Alexa+ and smart home functionality  Of course, the star of the show when it comes to the Echo Show 8’s smart home abilities is Alexa+, the long-awaited AI revamp for Alexa that’s coming up to its first anniversary.   While it’s been out for nearly a year and is available for anyone Alexa users who ask for it (and some who didn’t), Alexa+ is still in an “early access” phase. As such, Amazon isn’t charging for Alexa+ yet; eventually, Alexa+ access will be free for Amazon Prime members but $20 a month for everyone else.  Alexa+ will work on practically any working Echo speaker (including the earlier puck-shaped Echo Dot models). That said, the Echo Show 8’s AZ3 Pro processor helps the display to respond to the “Alexa” wake work more quickly and accurately, and it also enables the advanced Omnisense presense-detection abilities I mentioned earlier.  Like the “classic” Alexa (which is still around and will remain free), Alexa+ can control your smart lights, take charge of smart plugs, manage your thermostats, and run automated routines at your command. But while the old Alexa demanded the use of somewhat stilted voice commands (“Alexa, set table lamp 3 to 70 percent”), Alexa+ can understand natural language commands. Say “Alexa, it’s dark in here, can you make it brighter,” and Alexa+ can—theoretically—figure out that a) you’re in the living room and b) that you want the brightness of the living room lights dialed up.   When it works, it’s pretty cool, but as I’ve written before, Alexa+ frequently disappoints as much as it impresses, variously mishearing commands or misunderstanding your intent. Sometimes it accurately guesses that it should send over your Roomba when you declare how dirty the carpets are; sometimes it will just give you a speech about the carpet manufacturing industry. Sometimes it’s juggling your streaming music playlists with ease, tossing your tunes from one speaker to another; other times it seems unbelievably dense, like the time it mistook a collection of Taylor Swift 1989 covers for the actual 1989 album and doubled down when I pointed out the mistake.  In short, Alexa+ is very much a work in progress, which is why it remains in an early access period (and why I’m not giving it a full review just yet).  Just like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude, Alexa+ is constantly evolving, and hopefully improving as it does so. It’s also worth noting that Alexa+ isn’t alone in having smart-home hiccups; Gemini at Home has its share of foibles, too. Finally, you can always go back to the old Alexa if you want; not so with Gemini, which won’t let you return to Google Assistant.  Video calling and communication  One of the best features of a smart display like the Echo Show 8 is two-way video chat, and in this regard the product shines. The vibrant 8.7-inch, full-HD display can’t swivel on its own like the motorized screen on the 3rd-gen Echo Show 10, but the 13-megapixel camera’s software can nonetheless zoom in and follow you if you choose to roam while you chat.  The Echo Show 8’s camera also offers some limited home-monitoring capabilities, allowing users to take a live look through the lens when away from home. That said, the display’s camera can’t function as a Ring camera in the same way that Google’s camera-equipped Nest Hub Max can double as a Nest camera.   Aside from its video-calling features, the Echo Show 8 can handle voice communication, too. For example, you can call or “drop-in” on any other Echo device by asking Alexa. Even better, you can use Alexa to call any number in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico for free, although there’s a catch: you’re limited to just 10 contacts (at least you can swap new contacts for old whenever you want).  In another handy perk, you can connect Alexa to your AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon mobile number. You can then ask Alexa to make hands-free calls, and as a bonus, Alexa can announce your callers, answer the call, or even hang up on an incoming call.  Media playback  It probably won’t be the biggest screen in your home, but the Echo Show 8 still works well for playing videos from the big streaming services, provided you’re subscribed to either Amazon Prime Video (which Prime members get for free, although you’ll need to pay a little more to avoid ads) or Netflix. Both of those services offer native apps for the Echo Show 8, making for much smoother navigation and streaming.  For everything else—Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube and other services—you’ll need to use the Echo Show 8’s Silk web browser, which works in a pinch but feels clunkier compared to the native video apps.  If you want a more well-rounded streaming video experience from an Echo Show display, you’ll need to step up to the Echo Show 15 (either the first or second generations) or the Echo Show 21, with those larger displays supporting the full-on Amazon Fire TV app, complete with support for all the big streamers as well as dozens of niche streaming services.  As far as music goes, you can link accounts from such streaming services as Amazon Music, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Spotify, Tidal, iHeartRadio, Sirius XM, TuneIn, Audacy, and Audible. Missing from the list: YouTube Music and Qobuz.  The Echo Show 8 supports most of the big music streaming services, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.Ben Patterson/Foundry Audio performance  As I wrote earlier, Amazon has given the Echo Show 8 a serious audio upgrade compared to the previous generation, with the newer version swapping its predecessor’s passive bass radiator for a powered 2.8-inch woofer.  The result is much better bass, which became evident when I played Taylor Swift’s 1989 (yes, the same album I was arguing with Alexa+ about) on the 3rd- and 4th-gen Echo Show 8 displays in succession.   The older Show 8 sounded fine, perfectly serviceable for background music in the kitchen. The newer model, on the other hand, delivered audio performance that you could actually focus on and enjoy. We’re not talking Sonos levels of audio quality, mind you, but for a smart display, I thought the revamped Echo Show 8 sounded quite impressive.  Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 8?  I certainly have my quibbles with the 4th-gen Echo Show 8. The lack of a privacy shutter for the camera is my biggest complaint, while the iffy video streaming support is somewhat ameliorated by the fact that the 8-inch screen isn’t ideal for serious video watching. And yes, Alexa+ is still a work in progress, although you can always stick with the old Alexa if you prefer.  But in terms of a mainstream smart display that you place in your kitchen or living room, the Amazon Echo Show 8 hits the sweet spot. It looks terrific, it sounds great, it offers a galaxy of smart home integrations plus a wide range of connectivity, it’s perfect for video chat and can even place mobile calls for you. Provided you’ve settled on the Alexa ecosystem and given that Google’s Nest Hub displays are getting long in the tooth, the 4th-gen Echo Show 8 is the smart display to get.  Should you upgrade from the 3rd-generation Echo Show 8? It depends. Yes, the 4th-gen Show 8 boasts a much sleeker design, while the newer Echo Show certainly tops the 3rd-gen’s audio performance, particular in terms of bass response. But the older Echo Show 8 does have a privacy shutter, it offers the same smart home hubs and connectivity as the newer version, it supports Alexa+ (albeit with an older Amazon processor), and while its screen is a tad smaller, it still looks just as good as its successor’s.  So, if you’re drawn to the new design of the 4th-generation Echo Show 8 or you demand bleeding-edge audio and processor performance, sure, go ahead and pony up for the newer display. But if you’re mainly concerned about smart home control, you’ll be fine sticking with the 3rd-generation device.  This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers. Read...

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As much as seeing the Super Bowl in person would be a fantastic experience, have you seen those ticket prices? Terrible, right? Well, getting a new TV is much cheaper, especially when you can catch a deal as hot as this one: TCL’s massive 65-inch QM8K TV is only $999.99 at Best Buy with a MONSTROUS $1,500 discount. Holy moly! The QM8K features a 4K QD-Mini LED display at 65 inches, which translates to fantastic clarity and great contrast so you can see all those passes, tackles, and every minute of the half-time show in full visual glory. Its native 144Hz refresh rate also ensures smooth, blur-free motion, which is ideal for watching fast-paced sports (as well as for console gaming once the Super Bowl has passed). Your viewing experience is further enhanced with advanced HDR support, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+. For immersive sound, the TV is equipped with Dolby Atmos audio, something you’ll love every time you stream TV shows and movies. This TCL runs on the Google TV platform, providing access to all major streaming services. If you want a bigger TV, the other sizes are also on sale: 75-inch TCL QM8K TV: $1,499.99 ($1,700 off) 85-inch TCL QM8K TV: $1,999.99 ($1,800 off) 98-inch TCL QM8K TV: $2,999.99 ($2,000 off) No matter what size you get, this is an insane deal with enormous savings—so don’t miss this opportunity! Get the 65-inch TCL QM85K for $999.99 while you can and level up your home media pronto. Save $1,500 on TCL`s 65-inch 4K TV and live like a king at homeBuy now via Best Buy Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Innovative concept High-quality workmanship and materials 8,000 hertz polling rate Hot-swap sockets (3- and 5-pin) Removable wrist rest Cons High price No dedicated (but switchable) numpad Requires a lot of space Wired only Our Verdict The Corsair Galleon 100 SD is a high-quality, all-in-one gaming keyboard with integrated Stream Deck features, excellent typing performance, and versatile controls, but it’s bulky, wired, and best suited for users who will actually use its many extra functions. Price when reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Corsair Galleon 100 SD Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Best Prices Today: Check today’s prices With the Galleon 100 SD, Corsair is trying something new: for the first time, a mechanical keyboard integrates Elgato’s Stream Deck technology. The result is a full-size gaming keyboard that replaces the number pad with 12 freely assignable LCD keys, two rotary controls, and a 5-inch display. The concept is aimed at gamers, streamers, and creative professionals alike–in other words, anyone who needs comprehensive control and information at a glance while gaming, producing, or live streaming, without taking their hands off the keyboard. Our test report clarifies whether this innovative hybrid input device lives up to those expectations and justifies its price of $349.99. Friedrich Stiemer Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Design and workmanship At first glance, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD makes a solid impression. The housing is made of milled aluminum (CNC metal) and weighs in at a considerable 3.08 pounds, ensuring that the keyboard sits firmly on the desk. Corsair uses black PBT double-shot keycaps, which promise durability and abrasion-resistant lettering–a quality feature that’s appreciated in professional environments. Visually, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD combines classic gaming elements such as per-key RGB lighting and a discreet light bar (“mood bar”) along the upper edge of the housing with the eye-catching Stream Deck module on the right-hand side. An ergonomic palm rest with memory foam padding attaches magnetically, significantly improving long-term comfort. Corsair’s layout decisions are likely to spark discussion. Where the number pad would normally be located, the Stream Deck unit now takes pride of place, meaning the number pad has been completely omitted. Standard keys such as the arrow and navigation blocks, on the other hand, remain in their usual places. For many gamers, a keyboard without a numpad is nothing unusual, but typists will have to rethink their approach. Although the 12 LCD keys can be assigned as a numeric keypad when needed, for example, for entering numbers in Excel, this remains only a limited substitute for a physical numpad. In addition, some users may find the placement of the macro keys on the right-hand side to be a potential design disadvantage. In the heat of the moment, you have to take your right hand off the mouse to reach them. Standard gaming keyboards tend to place additional macro keys on the left-hand side, where they can be accessed with the keyboard hand. Friedrich Stiemer However, Corsair argues that the Stream Deck keys are integrated “within natural reach” and were designed as part of the keyboard from the outset. In practice, this will depend heavily on the user: right-handed users who use the mouse may find reaching the display keys on the right awkward, while streamers can easily access them with their left hand during breaks. Ultimately, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD impresses with its first-class workmanship and thoughtful design, which doesn’t feel overloaded despite the many extras. Rather, the keyboard stands out as an eye-catching feature on the desk. Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Technology and features The heart of the Corsair Galleon 100 SD is undeniably its full-fledged Stream Deck integration. A total of 12 freely programmable buttons with small LCD displays allow you to trigger complex actions, launch applications, or switch entire profile sets at the touch of a button. Sitting above the 3×4 key matrix is a five-inch (12.7 cm) color display with a resolution of 720×1280 pixels. The mini screen is topped by two multifunctional rotary controls with pressure function, which can be used as volume controls, media control, or creative fine adjustments. This entire control unit is seamlessly embedded in the keyboard, making separate macro pads or external Stream Deck devices virtually redundant. Particularly elegant is the fact that each LCD button adapts in real time to the active application or game, dynamically displaying user-defined icons or text. This effectively turns the buttons into next-generation macro keys, similar to those already familiar from Corsair’s Elgato Stream Deck product lineup. Friedrich Stiemer An entire article could be devoted to the possibilities offered by the Stream Deck keyboard combination. The range of applications is enormous: in games, predefined profiles allow you to trigger special abilities, use inventory shortcuts, or start complex command chains (“multi-actions”) at the touch of a button, without having to open menus or memorize cryptic hotkeys. Ready-made profiles and icons are already available for many popular games in the Elgato Marketplace. But the Galleon module also has a lot to offer beyond gaming: it can be used to control Spotify, operate chats or messengers, and accelerate creative workflows. Meanwhile, the integrated display provides helpful real-time information. For example, system monitoring data such as CPU/GPU load and temperatures, audio levels, or even the weather. Streamers will also appreciate having chat messages, Twitch status, timers, or viewer counts directly on the keyboard in their peripheral vision, eliminating the need to constantly look at a second monitor. Overall, Corsair’s approach is to minimize context switching: all important commands and information should be where “your hands and eyes belong,” namely on the keyboard. Corsair Galleon 100 SD: High-end technology and mechanical switches Of course, all this would be of little value if the basics weren’t done right. But the manufacturer also positions the Corsair Galleon 100 SD as an uncompromising high-end gaming keyboard. Inside, the in-house Axon chip with hyper-polling up to 8,000 hertz is at work, which, according to the manufacturer, forwards inputs to the PC up to eight times faster than standard keyboards with 1,000 hertz. Professional gamers benefit from ultra-low latency and FlashTap SOCD technology, which ensures that when opposite direction keys are pressed simultaneously, the last direction pressed is always prioritized. In plain terms, this allows for more precise movement such as lightning-fast counter-straffing in shooters without inputs blocking each other. N-key rollover with 100 percent anti-ghosting is also included, ensuring that any number of simultaneous keystrokes are reliably recognized. Friedrich Stiemer Corsair uses MLX Pulse switches. These linear mechanical switches actuate after just two millimeters and require only about 45 grams of force, giving them as a smooth feel similar to Cherry MX Red switches–exciting for enthusiasts! The switches are pre-lubricated from the factor, ensuring a smooth typing experience without scratchiness. They are also designed to offer a deliberately “thocky” sound profile, i.e. a rich, duller keystroke instead of the usual high-pitched click. To further suppress annoying ping noises, the entire key matrix rests on gaskets and six layers of sound-absorbing foam. In practice, this results in an extremely high-quality typing experience: each keystroke sounds muffled and full, while the keyboard remains highly responsive. Friedrich Stiemer Those who prefer to use their own switches in the Corsair Galleon 100 SD can swap the MLX Pulse for other 3- or 5-pin switches at any time thanks to hot-swap sockets – Corsair has also thought of the DIY community here. The technical features are rounded off by a detachable, sleeved USB-C cable (1.8 meters) and a USB pass-through port in the form of an easily accessible USB-C socket on the keyboard. This allows you to conveniently connect a headset, gamepad, or USB stick to the front without having to crawl under your desk. However, the Galleon 100 SD is a purely wired gaming keyboard. Given the power-hungry displays and 8 kHz technology, Corsair has consistently opted against wireless, which we find understandable for this device concept. Friedrich Stiemer Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Software As innovative as the hardware is, the software approach of the Corsair Galleon 100 SD is equally unusual. Surprisingly, the keyboard does not support the usual Corsair iCUE software; instead, two alternative solutions are employed. Corsair has developed a new web application called “Corsair Web Hub” for all classic keyboard functions (lighting, macros, profiles, polling rate, etc.). This is a browser-based configuration tool that requires no installation and accesses the keyboard directly when needed. Changes to lighting or key assignments are set via the web interface and then stored on the Galleon’s 8-megabyte onboard memory. The advantage? No permanent background software is required after setup. Web Hub can be closed, yet the settings remain in the device and even continue to function on another PC. We were able to easily adjust the RGB color for each key in Web Hub, define effects, and deactivate the Windows key in game mode. Macro recording and special features, such as the FlashTap SOCD settings, can also be adjusted through the Hub. Corsair’s approach of conserving system resources while still allowing extensive personalization is fundamentally commendable. Friedrich Stiemer The downside is that Elgato’s Stream Deck app must be running in parallel for the Stream Deck functions to work. The LCD buttons and display are configured entirely via the established Stream Deck software, including drag-and-drop assignment of actions, installation of plug-ins from the Marketplace, and management of profile pages. In principle, Galleon owners get the same powerful range of functions here as with a separate Stream Deck. However, the separation of the software is likely to be a thorn in the side of many Corsair fans: the recently released Corsair Vanguard keyboard (which pursued a similar special concept) was already criticized for fragmenting Corsair’s ecosystem. Users note that it’s “stupid to have to install a second piece of software just for the display.” Others ask in frustration whether Corsair is giving up on iCUE, as this is now the second product to be released without iCUE support. The fact remains that lighting synchronization or central control with other Corsair devices via iCUE is not possible with the Galleon 100 SD. If you want to control your Corsair mouse, headset, or PC lighting in sync with your keyboard, separate solutions must be used for the time being. Corsair could address this shortcoming in the future by integrating the systems more closely. For example, an iCUE plug-in that displays basic information on the keyboard display, similar to what the external iCUE Nexus display offers, would be desirable. Friedrich Stiemer On a positive note, Corsair does not require a user account or cloud access thanks to Web Hub. The settings remain local and the tool is very resource-efficient. Streamers and power users will appreciate the established Stream Deck software workflow anyway, as it offers an unrivalled range of options in its category such as plug-ins for Twitch, OBS Studio, YouTube, Discord, Philips Hue, and many other apps. In everyday use, however, this means that the Corsair Galleon 100 SD requires some initial configuration effort, as two interfaces have to be used. But once you’ve set up your profiles and settings, everything runs reliably. Thanks to onboard memory, the keyboard even starts in hardware mode with a basic profile on a foreign computer, and the Stream Deck app can automatically load profiles as needed once it’s running. Overall, Corsair’s software strategy for the Galleon 100 SD is unconventional, but it reflects the company’s focus on delivering performance without unnecessary overhead and on leveraging proven software (Elgato) rather than pushing iCUE onto the new hybrid concept. Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Gaming, streaming, and productivity In everyday use, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD proves to be a real all-rounder. For gamers, it offers everything you would expect from a modern premium keyboard: precise, responsive keystrokes, no ghosting or input lag, and, thanks to its solid construction, a stable foundation even when gameplay gets intense. The new features fit surprisingly organically into the gameplay. Take MMORPGs or MOBAs, for example: instead of memorizing complex keyboard shortcuts, you can simply assign potions, skill combos, or chat messages to the LCD keys and see the corresponding icon at a glance. Ready-made profile presets for many games make it easy to get started–for instance, you can operate instrument buttons in Flight Simulator or purchase equipment kits in Counter-Strike at the touch of a button without leaving the main game. We immediately triggered healing in a battle royale game using the Stream Deck button, giving us a slight time advantage by bypassing the inventory menu. Switching between game-specific lighting profiles (such as highlighting the WASD keys) also worked flawlessly via Web Hub and was clearly indicated on the display. Friedrich Stiemer The strengths are even more evident in everyday streaming. Here, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD transforms into a full-fledged studio deck: press two or three buttons, and the intro sequence starts, the microphone goes live, and the facecam fades in. During the stream, you can use the controls to mix the sound or switch between scenes without ever moving your fingers far from WASD or the chat keyboard. The small display is especially helpful, allowing us to constantly keep an eye on our live chat and viewer numbers. This made it easy to notice new questions in the chat and respond without taking our eyes off the game. Another practical feature: system resource indicators on the keyboard informed us if GPU usage became critical while streaming. A quick glance was all it took. For streamers who frequently switch between the game and streaming tools with Alt-Tab, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD provides noticeable relief and saves time. Everything is at your fingertips, as the keyboard becomes the command center for the entire live session. But the Galleon 100 SD also shines in productive workflows. In video and image editing programs, for example, we assigned important shortcuts to the LCD keys: a single press could control tools in Photoshop or start an export process in Adobe Premiere, among other things. The rotary knobs are ideal for continuous zooming on timelines or scrolling through long documents. If you make a lot of calls from your home office, a key can be assigned to mute your microphone in Teams or Zoom, with a red status indicator on the LCD key. Friedrich Stiemer For music lovers and frequent listeners, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD offers complete media control: skip tracks, fine-tune the volume, play and pause–all without reaching for the mouse. Even classic office users benefit. A Stream Deck plug-in, for example, can be used to execute predefined macros in Excel at the touch of a button or to control presentations in PowerPoint. In short, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD can increase productivity if you’re willing to adapt your working environment a little. Of course, there are also use cases where the Galleon concept reaches its limits. For example, anyone who spends hours every day hammering away at columns of numbers in spreadsheets will miss the real number pad, as the virtual number keys are only a makeshift solution here since you first have to switch to a suitable profile. In addition, it takes a little getting used to at first to exploit the full potential of the many extra control options. However, once you have set up your personal workflow, many things are much smoother than with separate devices or pure software control. In the test run, after a short time we couldn’t work without the additional displays and buttons, because you quickly get used to the luxury of having everything under control. The typing and writing performance of the Corsair Galleon 100 SD itself is excellent. The MLX switches feel linear and very smooth; thanks to the factory lubrication, there is no scratching or jumping. The muffled typing noise is striking: a rich “thock” with every keystroke, far removed from the sharp click of a blue switch or the hollow echo of some cheaper keyboards. Colleagues in the room found typing on it to be much more pleasant than on conventional gaming keyboards. Corsair’s efforts with seals and foam have paid off here. At the same time, we also registered every keystroke precisely, even in hectic gaming situations, no matter how fast the inputs were. The extremely high polling rate of 8,000 hertz may hardly be noticeable to the average player, but in combination with the robust construction, the keyboard feels absolutely direct and responsive at all times, which is a decisive factor for e-sports players and demanding gamers. Friedrich Stiemer Corsair Galleon 100 SD: Criticisms As impressive as the Corsair Galleon 100 SD is in terms of features and performance, there are a few points of criticism that cannot be ignored. Firstly, the price: $349.99 is a hefty sum for a keyboard. Objectively speaking, you do get two devices in one, i.e. a professional keyboard plus a Stream Deck, but the investment needs to be carefully considered. In fact, for the same money, you could buy a separate high-end keyboard and a larger Stream Deck (such as the Stream Deck XL with 32 keys) and still have some money leftover. The Corsair Galleon 100 SD is therefore clearly aimed at enthusiasts who appreciate the added value of integration and are willing to dig deep into their pockets for it. For casual gamers without streaming ambitions, the price-performance ratio is rather unfavorable, as they would leave many features unused. Secondly, the software situation: as described, Corsair is currently forcing users to use a dual setup consisting of Web Hub and the Stream Deck app. This means more configuration effort and potentially two applications running in parallel. Compared to the familiar “everything under one roof” philosophy of iCUE, this is a step backwards in terms of convenience and ecosystem. Those who already own several Corsair devices in particular will miss having centralized control. Although the setup runs stably in testing, the fragmentation remains a drawback. Especially since Corsair itself initially relied on Web Hub only for the Vanguard keyboard series and only later promised iCUE support. They could have learned from past feedback here. On a positive note, however, Corsair is taking an interesting approach with its resource-saving web configurator, which may even be more attractive to purists than the iCUE software, which is often criticized for being bloated. Friedrich Stiemer Thirdly, the lack of a wireless option. While technically understandable, the absence of wireless functionality could be a drawback for some users. In an age where even many high-end keyboards offer Bluetooth, the Corsair Galleon 100 SD is strictly tied to its USB cable. This may not be a problem on a desk with a stationary PC–on the contrary, the fixed connections (including the USB hub) have their advantages. But anyone hoping to position the keyboard more flexibly or switch quickly between multiple devices will always need to reconnect the cable. Fourthly, the space requirement. Despite the omission of the numpad, the Galleon 100 SD isn’t a space saver. Its width is roughly the same as a standard full-size keyboard, as the Stream Deck module occupies the space that would otherwise be freed up. The palm rest, combined with the height added by the display and controls, further contributes to the keyboard’s overall profile. In cramped setups, the keyboard could feel a bit bulky, though the palm rest can be removed if space is limited. Weighing 3.08 pounds, the keyboard doesn’t budge on the desk, but its heft makes it far from travel-friendly. LAN party goers, in particular, may hesitate to carry this battleship. Friedrich Stiemer Fifthly, the concept itself. As ingenious as the idea of an “all-in-one” input solution is, it’s aimed at a very specific target group. After all, a Stream Deck, whether separate or integrated, only makes sense if you actually use it. If you’re not interested in automating processes or optimizing your streaming or work setup with macros, you’ll be paying a lot for buttons and functions that may go unused. Not everyone will make full use of the keyboard’s expensive array of features in everyday life. That said, this risk is inherent to any specialized tool. Corsair at least provides everything you need to reap long-term benefits, including a large community of existing profiles and plug-ins. Read...

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