Stream Desktop Recharge: Peripherals from Cherry become more sustainable

The keyboard and mouse experts from Cherry are planning to make their input devices a bit more sustainable. The mouse-keyboard combo “Stream Desktop Recharge” is to be the first. However, the new edition is not only supposed to be more environmentally friendly, but also “the best Stream ever” in terms of quality according to Cherry itself. We’ll take a look at what Cherry has planned with its venture.

At first glance, hardly any changes

Once you take a look at the new edition of the wireless mouse-keyboard combo, you can’t see any difference from the old version of the “Stream” at first. However, the environmentally friendly new variant called “Stream-Desktop-Recharge” has a few new things to offer. Cherry has comprehensively reworked the inner workings. Now the batteries of the wireless mouse and keyboard can be easily replaced.

This should allow you to enjoy the mouse-keyboard combo for as long as possible. Two AA batteries are supposed to provide the necessary power in the mouse of the “Stream Desktop Recharge”. In contrast, the corresponding keyboard is powered by two AAA storage cells. Should one of the two input devices ever run out of power, you can easily recharge them via an included USB-C cable.

Environmentally friendly batteries

Cherry relies on NiMH batteries for the replaceable batteries. These are supposed to be characterized by an astonishingly low self-discharge. If we trust the Stiftung Warentest’s verdict, we can rely on the quality of the batteries used. After all, the magazine attested the energy storage devices a “very good” performance. Not only the exchangeability of the batteries is supposed to be beneficial for the environment. On top of that, Cherry also wants to shine with ecologically valuable behavior.

For example, the set’s packaging is also said to be entirely plastic-free. The environmental friendliness is also certified by the “Blue Angel” seal. However, there are different levels of the Blue Angel, of which the mouse-keyboard combo does not achieve the best. Thus, the “Stream Desktop Recharge” is not an absolute, but “only” a relative environmental compatibility.

Haptics and technology unchanged

Away from the ecological battery technology and packaging policy, however, nothing really changes with the new mouse-keyboard combo. Cherry has once again installed scissor keys in its keyboard. These are mainly known from notebooks and ensure a flat construction as well as pleasant typing behavior. Conveniently, it should have ten additional keys, which should enable Windows features as well as practical media functions.

Nothing else has changed with the mouse either. In addition to the six buttons for input, it offers a choice of 1,000, 1,600 or 2,400 dpi sampling rates, which are supposed to be made possible with the help of the built-in high-quality sensor. Besides the hardware, the software should also be convincing. With the help of this, the keys of the mouse and keyboard should be able to be programmed individually.

Price and availability

However, Cherry also wants to charge a hefty surcharge for the environmentally friendly design of its mouse-keyboard combo. Thus, the set, which is optionally available in black or white, is to be launched at an MSRP of 85 euros. Compared to the classic Stream set, which currently costs just under 40 Euros, this is associated with a hefty additional cost. Whether the more than twice as high purchase price is actually worth it, we will be able to see at the end of July at the latest. The Stream Desktop Recharge is supposed to be launched then.