I bought All-White PC Hardware and it caused a lot of problems

Technology comes in many different shapes, sizes, and varieties, but aesthetics aren’t necessarily at the top of most people’s list of requirements. For one, I was tired of seeing black, silver, and gray tech all around me for years and decided to push an all-white tech aesthetic.

The result looks great, but it has also caused a lot of problems since then.

1 They are always sold out

The first hurdle you’ll encounter when buying white PC hardware is affordability. This also applies to hardware and peripherals that are any other color or edition than the regular black models that are constantly being sold.

There is some variation in this. For example, if you’re looking at white controllers, you’ll find plenty of them around, as controllers often have more playful color schemes than mice, keyboards, and headsets. However, most white PC hardware is generally produced in smaller quantities to meet lower demand, and unless you’re quick to buy, it’s almost always sold out.

It’s hard to come up with a definitive answer as to why this happens, and that’s true across manufacturers. My best guess is that white PC hardware doesn’t sell as well as its black counterparts, so it makes sense for manufacturers to produce fewer white or non-black units. However, over the past year I have seen this issue lessen, so depending on where you are, it may not be too much of a concern.

2 Higher prices

White computer hardware also usually costs more than its black counterparts. My mouse, the Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed (one of the best gaming mice Logitech makes), is $134.99 on Amazon at the time of this writing. As you might guess, the black version of the mouse costs a lot less at $106.95. There’s even a difference in their regular retail prices, which come in at $159.99 and $139.99 for the white and black versions, respectively.

Another example is my headphones, the Sony WH CH720N. The white version I own is $149.99 on Amazon, while the black version can be had for as low as $60 depending on condition.

It may not seem like much of a difference for a single purchase, but it can easily add up to hundreds of dollars when trying to build an entire setup. And if you don’t live in the US, the price difference can be even higher depending on currency exchange rates. I ended up paying almost $185 for my Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed here in India, which is an extra $46 over the retail price.

3 More maintenance

White computer hardware looks beautiful, but only if you can keep it clean. While the white hardware won’t show fingerprints as easily, you’ll have to deal with a much bigger problem – yellowing of the white plastic with repeated use. You may be able to fix your broken computer with ChatGPT, but the cleanup is something you’ll have to do yourself.

It does not look good in daylight and is not easy to clean. However, the degree of yellowing depends on the plastic material itself. My Logitech mouse and Sony headphones are the worst so far in two and one years of use. On the other hand, the white keys on my Keychron K2 V2 are still going strong after more than two years of daily use.

Yellowing is also only one part of the spectrum. White hardware will show off every speck of dust or debris you pick up on your hardware during everyday use. Of course, this affects a few peripherals more than others, but I recommend keeping some cleaning solution and microfiber cloths at your desk or in your backpack and giving them a good wipe down every week.

From personal experience, don’t store coffee or liquids that can leave nasty stains near white hardware. Ideally, you shouldn’t keep any drinks near the hardware in case of spills, but if you spilled drinks on your white hardware, it would be a big hassle to clean them up – that is, if they survive the spill.

4 Warranty claims can be difficult

Higher prices and lower production numbers can also make it harder to claim a white hardware warranty. In my case, Logitech India refused to honor the warranty on my G502 X Plus Lightspeed simply because none of the Logitech stores in my city had the white mouse in stock. However, I had the option of getting a black one as a replacement.

Keep in mind that this may be a regional issue and is highly dependent on the manufacturer having sufficient stock available. I wouldn’t worry too much about warranty claims, especially if you’re buying from a reputable manufacturer. That said, it can be a really tricky situation, so it’s better to know what you’re getting into.

5 Why I will continue to buy white PC hardware

In short, if you go off the beaten path and buy PC hardware that fits a specific aesthetic that doesn’t have black in the color scheme, you’ll have to buy fast, pay more, clean the hardware more often, and possibly run into warranty issues if something goes wrong. will mess up.

But I will still continue to buy white PC hardware. In a sea of ​​grey, black and silver laptops, my white laptop stands out and looks sharp. Paired with the rest of my hardware, my workstation looks incredible whether I’m sitting at my desk, in the library, or working in a coffee shop. And if you have RGB hardware, it will look even better.