Gaming and setup
What does RGB mean?
RGB stands for red, green and blue, the three colors of light that, mixed at different intensities, produce every other color. On keyboards, headsets and gaming accessories it means configurable colored lighting. On displays and projectors it describes how the picture itself is generated.
RGB on accessories: lighting
An accessory with RGB lighting has LEDs that combine red, green and blue to show almost any color. Depending on the device, you change the color with a button or from software on the computer.
The ARGB variant (addressable RGB) lets each LED be controlled on its own, which allows effects such as waves or a rainbow running along the strip. With plain RGB, the whole zone shows one color at a time. Lighting is cosmetic: it does not change how the device performs, and when switched on it uses some battery on wireless models.
RGB on displays and projectors
Each dot on a display is made of three tiny parts: one red, one green and one blue. Varying the brightness of each produces the final color.
On projectors, "RGB laser" or "triple laser" means there is a separate light source for each color, instead of a single light passing through a color wheel or filter. It is a way of producing color, not a measure of brightness or resolution: those figures are listed separately.
What to check before you buy
- If the light distracts you or you want more battery life, confirm the lighting can be switched off.
- For zone effects look for ARGB or "addressable RGB", not just RGB.
- On a projector, the light source type does not replace ANSI lumens or native resolution: check all three.
Frequently asked questions
No. On an accessory, RGB lighting is decorative: it does not make a keyboard faster or a headset sound better.