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In the realm of gaming gear, innovation thrives, with many of the most creative ideas being transformed into tangible products rather than merely remaining conceptual. Nowadays, gaming mechanical keyboards are better designed by manufacturers, utilizing various new switch types such as optical switches, low-profile switches, and even switches with customizable activation points... all aimed at providing a better gaming experience for gamers. Whatever your preferred gaming gear brand is, check out the TTBC 2020 results to see if your allies made the list:
Razer Huntsman Elite: The Pioneer
The forefront in the realm of mechanical keyboards utilizing optical switches, the Huntsman Elite stands as an epitome of innovation. Representing Razer's latest foray into mechanical keyboards, the Huntsman Elite boasts a full-size design with premium craftsmanship, featuring a magnetic wrist rest, a volume control dial situated at the keyboard's right corner, and Razer Chroma lighting system illuminating every key and the keyboard's perimeter. Razer has also introduced Tournament Edition (TKL) and Huntsman Mini (60%) versions.
This keyboard exclusively employs optical switches with 2 options: Purple (Clicky) and Red (Linear). The distinctive feature of Razer's optical switches is the inclusion of a stabilizing bar (stab bar) on each switch, ensuring precision and consistent keystrokes across all keys. The Purple clicky variant offers a 1.5mm actuation point with a mere 45g actuation force, suitable for both gaming and typing. Meanwhile, the Red linear variant boasts an incredibly early 1mm actuation point with a minimal 40g actuation force. The current price of the Huntsman Elite is approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese dong.
The Tournament Edition is condensed into a TKL layout, still retaining the premium design with a metal plate and customizable Razer Chroma lighting on each key. If you fancy experiencing Razer's optical switches in a compact and budget-friendly package, the Huntsman Elite Tournament is a sensible choice, priced at only around 3 million dong.Razer BlackWidow V3 TKL: A Classic Pick
In the realm of traditional mechanical switch keyboards, the BlackWidow V3 TKL stands out as a compelling option from Razer. The BlackWidow has been a staple in Razer's lineup for a decade, with the first version launched a decade ago. Over the years, Razer has continued to refine the BlackWidow series with various iterations, although the design remains largely unchanged. The new BlackWidow V3 TKL offers two switch options: Razer Green clicky switches with a 50g actuation force and a 1.9mm actuation point, and Razer Yellow tactile switches with a 45g actuation force and a 1.2mm actuation point. Each key is adorned with Razer Chroma lighting. The BlackWidow V3 TKL is priced at 2.7 million Vietnamese dong.
Logitech G Pro X
This is my favorite mechanical keyboard from Logitech, and I highly suggest giving it a try because it supports switch swapping (hot swap) - a feature rarely seen in gaming mechanical keyboards. The Pro X features a TKL layout and shares a similar design with the previous G Pro model, which used GX Blue/Red switches.
The standout feature of the G Pro X is its hot-swappable switch PCB, compatible with various mechanical switch types currently available with a 3-pin design. I've experimented with different switch brands on the G Pro X, from Kailh Box and Outemu to Cherry MX and Gateron. So, if you're into customizing your typing experience or simply want to try out new switches without replacing the entire keyboard, the G Pro X is an excellent choice. It's priced around 3 million Vietnamese dong, and Logitech also sells additional switch sets like GX Red, Brown, or Blue for about 1 million dong per set.Logitech G512 Carbon
This is Logitech's best-selling keyboard and has been the go-to choice for gamers for many years. The G512 features a full-size design and offers various switch options, including GX Blue with a clicky feel, 50g actuation force, and 2mm actuation point, GX Brown with a tactile feel, 50g actuation force, and 1.9mm actuation point, and GX Red with a linear feel, 50g actuation force, and 1.9mm actuation point.
This keyboard is built to last, with a sturdy aluminum-magnesium alloy plate, thick braided cable, integrated USB pass-through for headphones or mouse, and Lightsync RGB lighting synchronized with other Logitech accessories. It's priced around 3 million Vietnamese dong.Logitech G813 LightSync and G913 LightSpeed
Introducing the dynamic duo of Logitech's unique low-profile mechanical keyboards, unveiled in August 2019. Both feature a full-size layout, with the G913 (known as G915 internationally) LightSpeed being a wireless keyboard that operates with either a receiver or Bluetooth, while the G813 (known as G815 internationally) has a similar design but is wired.
One standout feature of the G813 and G913 series is their slim profile, measuring just 22mm thick. Logitech has equipped both keyboards with a volume roller for quick adjustment and exceptionally high-quality keys. Additionally, both keyboards support customizable LightSync RGB lighting on each key and synchronization with other Logitech G devices. The G913 series has also recently introduced a more compact TKL variant, ideal for wireless usage.SteelSeries Apex Pro
Behold the pinnacle of SteelSeries innovation in recent years, the Apex Pro mechanical keyboard. It's an experience worth diving into for the features it offers. Available in two variants, the full-size Apex Pro and the Apex Pro TKL, both share a similar design, featuring a magnetic wrist rest and an OLED display. However, the standout feature of the Apex Pro series lies in the switches equipped by SteelSeries, known as OmniPoint.
These switches utilize magnetic or Hall effect technology, enabling precise measurement of the distance a key is pressed at any given time. This allows for customization of the actuation point on a per-key basis, allowing for shorter actuation points for quicker and more precise gaming actions, and longer actuation points for a more tactile typing experience. Users can adjust the actuation point from 0.4mm to 3.6mm. Currently, the OmniPoint switches are only available in a linear form, with a 45g actuation force.
A noteworthy feature of the Apex Pro series is its small OLED display. It can showcase various information ranging from volume levels, currently playing music, keyboard brightness, to custom animated icons through SteelSeries Engine. Alongside this display, there's a volume adjustment scroll wheel. The Dynamic Per-Key RGB keyboard lighting supports customization on a per-key basis, displaying game-specific effects, music visualizations, and various plug-ins through SteelSeries Engine. The price of the Apex Pro series is around 4.5 million Vietnamese dong, while the TKL variant is approximately 4 million dong.Corsair K68 RGB
The Corsair K68 RGB stands as Corsair's best-selling keyboard. It's designed to be extremely durable and capable of withstanding the intense usage of passionate gamers or those who tend to snack while gaming. The K68 RGB is water and dust resistant, achieving an IP32 rating, ensuring its longevity even under demanding conditions.
The switches used are Cherry MX Red or Blue, but these switches are encased inside a special water and dust-resistant frame. The typing experience of Cherry MX switches on the K68 RGB remains unaffected; Red switches are still smooth with a 45g actuation force, activating at 2mm within a total travel distance of 4mm, while Blue switches still provide that distinctive clicky feel with a 50g actuation force, activating at 2mm within a total travel distance of 4mm.
Despite being waterproof and dustproof, the K68 still features iCUE RGB lighting for customization and synchronization with other Corsair iCUE hardware. It also comes with a detachable wrist rest and is currently priced at around 3 million dong, with some places offering discounts down to 2.3 million dong.ASUS ROG Strix Scope
When it comes to gaming gear, ASUS stands out as a brand that invests heavily in innovation and features. The ROG Strix Scope is a full-size mechanical keyboard designed for FPS gamers, featuring an enlarged left Ctrl key for easier access, as well as differently colored keycaps for WASD keys. ASUS offers multiple Cherry MX switch options, including 4 linear options optimized for gaming like Red, Silent Red, Black, and high-speed Speed Silver, along with the traditional Blue and Brown switches.
This keyboard features an interesting function called Instant Privacy - a feature I like to call 'anti-parent gank' because when you press this button, the sound is automatically muted, and all open applications are hidden. Press it again, and everything returns to normal.
The ROG Strix Scope comes in various versions, such as the Scope TKL with a compact layout and the Scope PBT without backlighting, featuring PBT keycaps for a better typing feel. The lighting system on the Scope series is visually stunning with AURA lighting technology, illuminating each key, the ROG logo, and even the keyboard's front border in the TKL version. This lighting system is customizable and syncs with other AURA-compatible hardware from ASUS. The price of the ROG Strix Scope series is around 3 million dong.
