Skip to main content

Microsoft accessories are back from the dead

Microsoft announced in April last year that it was shutting down its peripherals business, which included keyboards, mice, webcams, and other accessories, to focus more on its Surface-branded products. However, if you are a Microsoft loyalist, there is good news.

Thanks to a strategic partnership with accessory maker Incase, the lineup is making a comeback. Onward Brands, the corporate entity behind Incase, claims to have secured the licensing rights and associated intellectual property from the Microsoft accessories portfolio. This agreement means Incase will be responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of various Microsoft accessory products, including keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, and speakers.

The Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard in black.
Digital Trends

The accessories will be launched under the “Incase Designed by Microsoft” branding and are expected to look and feel the same as before. The only visible difference is going to be Incase’s leaf-shaped logo instead of Microsoft’s.

Incase has already listed the first 23 Designed by Microsoft computer accessories that will be available for purchase later this year. The list features a range of keyboards, mice, headphones, a speaker, and a webcam, including popular models like the Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop keyboard and the Bluetooth Ergonomic Mouse. Incase is also planning to launch a new ergonomic keyboard under the same branding.

Incase will be selling these accessories worldwide via its website, as well as through various retailers, including BestBuy and Amazon, with availability scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.

Editors' Recommendations

Kunal Khullar
A PC hardware enthusiast and casual gamer, Kunal has been in the tech industry for almost a decade contributing to names like…
Microsoft may fix the most frustrating thing about Windows updates
Windows 11 updates are moving to once a year.

Most Windows users will agree that one of the most annoying things about the operating system is the updates. While Windows Updates are necessary, they often tend to come up at the worst possible time, interrupting work and gaming sessions with persistent reminders that the system needs to reboot. Microsoft might be fixing that problem in the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 build, but it's still too early to bid farewell to those ill-timed reboots.

As spotted in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058, Microsoft is testing "hot patching" for some Windows 11 updates. Hot patching refers to a dynamic method of updating that often doesn't change the software version and may not even need a restart. In the context of Windows 11, it's pretty straightforward -- Windows will install the update, and you won't have to reboot your system.

Read more
Intel and Microsoft just announced a huge collaboration
A tray of Intel Core Ultra CPUs.

Intel has announced a new collaboration with Microsoft, revealing plans for the tech giant to utilize its services in manufacturing a custom computing chip. Intel is optimistic about surpassing its internal deadline of 2025 to outpace its primary competitor, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), in advanced chip manufacturing.

The announcement came during an event held in San Jose, California, marking the inaugural technology conference for Intel Foundry, the company's contract manufacturing arm established to compete with TSMC. Intel also outlined its strategy to reclaim the title of producing the world's fastest chips from TSMC, with the goal being to achieve this milestone later in the year with its Intel 18A manufacturing technology.

Read more
7 beloved Windows apps that Microsoft has killed over the years
A screenshot of Internet Explorer 9.

Microsoft's history is littered with the discontinuation of once-beloved applications. Most recently, WordPad, the renowned text editor app, was conspicuously absent from the latest beta build of Windows 11, indicating an end to its 28-year-long journey. I have fond memories of using the app back in my college days when Microsoft Office was too pricey for me.

WordPad is far from the only app to get canceled by Microsoft over the years. From pioneering productivity tools to nostalgic multimedia players, let's reminisce about some of the most famous applications that Microsoft has consigned to the annals of tech history.
Internet Explorer

Read more