After developing its hardware ecosystem, Galax has begun to venture into gaming accessories to further solidify its presence in this market. This move is significant for Galax, especially as graphics cards and other hardware are facing widespread challenges due to the global semiconductor supply shortage.
Unlike other hardware products also produced by Galax, the gaming gear line is not categorized by price segments but instead by individual product types. For example, the Stealth series consists of keyboards for gamers, while the Slider series includes gaming mice. The Sonar series focuses on audio products…
While Galax may be a powerhouse in the graphics card market, it is a relatively unfamiliar name in the gaming gear segment, and there’s still much to discover about their products.
Recently, Galax’s first gaming gear products have appeared in the Vietnamese market, including the full-size mechanical keyboard STL-03.
The STL-03 mechanical keyboard features a floating design with a slim case and exposed switch-keycap cluster. This design is quite popular due to its effectiveness in cleaning and dust resistance. Moreover, it allows RGB LED-equipped keyboards to shine more brightly without any obstructions.
The case of the STL-03 is quite slim, featuring a color scheme of gray and black that looks relatively elegant with a unique touch. The entire case is made of plastic, making this mechanical keyboard lightweight. However, this does not mean that the keyboard flexes during use.
One downside is the height-adjustable feet, which extend beyond the boundaries covered by the keyboard case. The feet themselves do not have a non-slip layer, making the keyboard less stable on low-friction surfaces.
Galax uses ABS doubleshot plastic as the primary material for the keycap, with custom-molded fonts ensuring durability over time and allowing light to pass through completely, not just from the keyboard’s base.
The font used on the Galax STL-03 is quite large and clear, providing enough space for the LED lights to shine through. Visually, the font is decent but not particularly striking.
The Galax STL-03 employs the Outemu Switch system at its core for a balanced experience between value and performance. Although Outemu is not highly regarded compared to major brands like Cherry, it has gradually gained popularity and provided better typing experiences over time. This review was smoothly conducted using the Blue Switches of the Galax STL-03.
The switch case is made of transparent plastic, allowing the multicolored LED strip on the STL-03 to shine through. However, this keyboard does not feature RGB lighting, which may be a mild drawback for picky gamers.
The keyboard is also equipped with shortcut keys to open common apps and multimedia control keys, making it particularly useful for gamers who also want to listen to music or multitask while playing.
In addition to the STL-03 keyboard, the Slider-01 is another piece in Galax’s new gaming gear lineup. This is an ergonomic mouse that stands out from similar competitors in the market.
The majority of the mouse’s structure is plastic, so even though it has a somewhat bulky shape, it remains very lightweight. This mouse targets users with larger hands, utilizing palm grip and claw grip styles, especially those who use a mouse for extended periods.
The surface of the mouse is finely textured, providing good dust and sweat resistance. However, to maintain its new appearance, gamers still need to put in some effort to clean it regularly.
On the body of the mouse, the Galax logo and an RGB LED strip run along its length, adding a nice touch. Unlike the STL-03, which only uses colored LEDs regionally, the Slider-01 can change colors dynamically across the entire strip. This area also indicates the current DPI level of the mouse.
The Slider-01 mouse has a fair number of buttons. In addition to the two main buttons and the scroll wheel, it also includes Back and Forward buttons, which are common in today’s mouse designs. Additionally, the mouse can adjust DPI sensitivity at various levels using two DPI adjustment buttons located on the back, making it convenient for different situations.
Lastly, there is a “Fire” button located on the upper left side. This button enhances the gaming experience by allowing gamers to add actions quickly and conveniently, synchronized with the user’s mouse movements.
In terms of button experience, the mouse performs excellently across all buttons, with appropriate bounce and weight. As for the sensor, accuracy may not be an issue, but the lift-off distance is a concern. The lift-off distance is quite high, making actions like flicking the mouse less precise. However, for all other game types, the Slider-01 performs without any hindrance.
In conclusion, Galax has begun its foray into the gaming gear market with products that are easily accessible to the general public – users with basic needs and not too demanding. This is also a good start for deeper penetration into the gaming device market in the future.