Gaming
Rapoo V500 and V500 SE gaming keyboards: Save and play
Affordable gaming keyboards that suit your style
More people are getting into gaming these days, especially while we’re all stuck indoors. Of course, even while indoors, we’re still looking for more affordable options for any upgrades. Whether it’s for the living space or that one gaming corner for the family, there are plenty of options out there that won’t hurt your wallet.
For any gaming or work space, one of the more common peripherals you need would be a fully functional keyboard. Fortunately, Rapoo has a wide selection of both gaming and WFH-suited keyboards built to provide an affordable yet quality typing experience overall. For the gamers out there, the Rapoo V500 and V500 SE are two great options you can consider.
Work and play with the Rapoo V500
If you’re in the market for a space-saving gaming keyboard, the Rapoo V500 is a viable option to consider. Apart from being a ten-key less keyboard, the Rapoo V500 comes with a full range of blue mechanical switches suitable for intense gaming sessions.
Also, this keyboard is quite hefty in terms of its depth, and feels durable. Inside the box, you also get a keycap puller in case you want to customize it.
This keyboard supports a wired USB-A connection, which makes it an ideal fit for most PCs and laptops out there. Although, the V500 isn’t an RGB-laden variant in terms of backlighting, so it doesn’t have that flash in color.
Even so, it actually provides that aesthetic that fits both work and play. If you’re not a fan of the flashing rainbow lights, the Rapoo V500 is the one for you.
Be flashy in your gameplay with the Rapoo V500 SE
The same cannot be said about the Rapoo V500 SE for many reasons. First of all, the V500 SE is a full-size keyboard, which comes with its own perks. Compared to the V500, the V500 SE is rather lengthier and lighter so it’s a bit easier to move around. Also, unlike the V500, the V500 SE does not come with a keycap puller inside. However, if you buy both, you can use the same keycap puller anyway.
Perhaps the biggest difference is that well, this keyboard comes with a full array of RGB backlighting. The V500 SE comes with four levels of backlighting, with 6 distinct color effects bound to the six keys above the directional keys. Although, there’s no way you can adjust individual light zones. It is as simple as you could get for an RGB keyboard out there.
Price and availability
The Rapoo V500 and V500 SE are available on Rapoo’s official store on Shopee for PhP 2,499 and PhP 2,199.
Gaming
Life is Strange: Reunion now available on consoles and PC
Max and Chloe return for an emotional finale
Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia and Square Enix have officially launched Life is Strange: Reunion, the latest entry in the narrative adventure series. Developed by Deck Nine Games, the title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store. A physical PlayStation 5 edition is also available across Southeast Asia.
The launch comes with an official trailer, marking the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved storylines.
A long-awaited reunion
Set 11 years after the original events, Life is Strange: Reunion brings back Max Caulfield and Chloe Price as they reunite to solve a new timeline-spanning mystery. This time, the stakes center on a devastating inferno threatening Caledon University–Max’s workplace as a photography teacher.
Returning from a trip, Max discovers the campus engulfed in flames, with lives lost across the university. She survives only by using her Rewind ability, a power that allows her to reverse time.
The situation takes an unexpected turn with Chloe’s sudden arrival–an outcome tied to the timeline-merging events of Life is Strange: Double Exposure. Now dealing with fractured memories and an unstable sense of reality, Chloe once again finds herself relying on Max.
Dual perspectives, new gameplay dynamics
For the first time in the series, players can take control of both Max and Chloe, switching perspectives as the story unfolds.
Max’s Rewind power lets players revisit decisions, reshape conversations, and manipulate environments to solve complex, time-based puzzles. Meanwhile, Chloe brings her signature Backtalk ability, allowing her to push conversations in her favor and access situations Max cannot.
This dual-character approach expands both narrative depth and gameplay variety, offering different ways to uncover clues and influence outcomes.
A character-driven finale
Life is Strange: Reunion continues the series’ focus on grounded, emotional storytelling, with choices that carry meaningful consequences. The game builds toward a dramatic climax that aims to close out Max and Chloe’s journey.
As the final chapter in their story, Reunion positions itself as both a continuation and a conclusion–tying together years of narrative threads while delivering a new mystery shaped by time, loss, and choice.
Gaming
Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical
Physical releases will have the same price.
The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.
Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.
The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.
The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.
To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.
Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.
SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States
Razer has officially unveiled the 2026 version of its Blade 16, doubling down on what it does best: squeezing high-end performance into an ultra-slim chassis.
This year’s refresh focuses on meaningful internal upgrades. That includes a new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, faster LPDDR5X memory, and NVIDIA’s latest RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs — all while keeping the Blade 16 as the thinnest gaming laptop in Razer’s lineup.
Performance gets a serious bump
At the core of the new Blade 16 is the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, featuring 16 cores and up to 4.9GHz boost clock. Razer claims a 33% increase in core count versus the previous generation, translating to stronger performance across gaming, content creation, and AI workloads.
There’s also an integrated NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS, enabling faster on-device AI tasks like image generation and live translation.
Memory gets a notable upgrade too. The Blade 16 now supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM, which Razer positions as the fastest available in a laptop today. The result: quicker responsiveness for heavy multitasking, creative apps, and AI-assisted workflows.
On the graphics side, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Series (Blackwell architecture) brings DLSS 4 and enhanced AI capabilities for both gaming and creator use cases.
Display and design stay premium
Razer isn’t fixing what isn’t broken. The Blade 16 retains its signature CNC-milled aluminum chassis, measuring just 14.9mm thick and weighing around 2.14kg.
The display remains a highlight. You get a 16-inch QHD+ OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, now brighter and certified for VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000. It supports full DCI-P3 coverage, Calman calibration, and NVIDIA G-SYNC, making it just as suited for creators as it is for competitive gaming.
Battery life and efficiency improve
Despite the performance gains, Razer is also pushing efficiency. Thanks to Intel’s newer architecture and system-level optimizations, the Blade 16 can hit up to 13 hours of productivity use and up to 15 hours of video playback under ideal conditions.
That’s a notable improvement for a machine in this class, especially given its slim form factor.
Connectivity and audio step up
The 2026 Blade 16 gets a future-ready connectivity suite, including Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0. There’s also a full set of ports, from USB-A to HDMI 2.1 and an SD card reader.
Audio gets an upgrade too. The six-speaker system now supports THX Spatial Audio+ with virtual 7.1.4 surround, aiming to deliver more immersive sound both on speakers and headphones.
Price and availability
The Razer Blade 16 configured with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB VRAM) and 32GB LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM is priced at US$3,499.99 / €3,599.99 MSRP.
It is available now, exclusively via Razer.com and select RazerStores worldwide.
Still the Blade, just sharper
At a glance, the 2026 Blade 16 doesn’t reinvent the formula. But under the hood, it pushes performance, memory speed, and efficiency forward in ways that matter.
It’s still the same idea: a no-compromise gaming laptop that looks like it belongs in a minimalist workspace — just faster, smarter, and a bit more future-proof this time around.
-
Reviews1 week agoPOCO X8 Pro Max review: A new beast from the far east
-
News1 week agoPOCO X8 Pro Series: Price, availability in the Philippines
-
Reviews1 week agoPOCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition review: Midrange phone in superhero armor
-
Automotive1 week agoVinFast extends free unlimited charging in 3 markets amid rising fuel prices
-
Reviews2 weeks agoSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: A phone you live with
-
Philippines1 week agoThe HONOR X8d is serviceable
-
News1 week agoPOCO introduces X8 Pro Series with Dimensity 9500s
-
Gaming2 weeks agoNVIDIA’s DLSS 5 can turn your favorite AAA game into AI slop









