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Gamakay TK101: one-minute overview
The Gamakay TK101 is a wi-fi mechanical keyboard with a compact kind issue at an inexpensive worth. It adopts a extra retro aesthetic, harking back to older fashion mechanical keyboards. The multicolored keycaps do assist so as to add curiosity, and their rounded edges are inviting.
Additionally they really feel nearly as good as they appear since they’re constructed from double-shot PBT. They’ve a slight but satisfying texture, and are extra premium than you may anticipate at this worth level. The truth is, the entire building of the TK101 is admirable.
The chassis is sort of thick and fairly heavy contemplating its small format. There’s no included wrist relaxation, although, which is a disgrace since I needed to bend my wrists uncomfortably for more often than not.
Whereas there are numerous shortcuts you’ll be able to carry out utilizing the FN and different keys, there’s no labelling on the keys themselves for these further capabilities, so that you’ll need to check with the handbook. What’s extra, in contrast to with lots of the best wireless keyboards, there isn’t any customization software program, which suggests extra superior tweaks are lacking. This makes it much less amenable for gaming, the place such tweaks may be vital.
The unit I had got here with tactile switches, and whereas I discovered them satisfying to make use of because of their dampening and lubrication, they’re fairly heavy, and never as snappy as I might’ve favored for gaming. For typing, I discovered the MDA profile of the keycaps too thick, as I usually want low-profile laptop-style keys. And regardless of what Gamakay claims, I didn’t discover them to be quiet both.
Connecting to a number of units is simple, and the fast switching shortcuts work effectively. As much as three Bluetooth units may be switched between, along with units linked through the included 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle or a USB cable.
Whereas I wasn’t in a position to deplete the battery utterly throughout my time with the TK101, after just a few days of various use it dropped to about 50%, which isn’t a really spectacular efficiency.
For the value, the TK101 punches above its weight because of its premium building and {hardware}. Nevertheless, I discovered the tactile switches a little bit too heavy, and the dearth of customization hurts it. If you happen to’re after a keyboard with a good lower cost however nonetheless has nice efficiency, the Keychron C3 Pro is a superb alternative, and for one thing extra gaming-orientated, the Logitech G213 Prodigy could also be a greater different.
Gamakay TK101 overview: worth and availability
- $89 / £76 / AU$150
- Out there now in a number of colorways
- Good worth, however some cheaper alternate options
The Gamakay TK101 prices $89 / £76 / AU$150 and is out there now in three colorways: White & Gray, Black & Pink, and Cyan & Gray. You may configure it with Saturn (linear) or Pluto (tactile) switches, though these are hot-swappable, with Gamakay promoting extra on their web site.
The TK101 is well-priced for a wi-fi mechanical keyboard with a number of connectivity choices. The Logitech G213 Prodigy, one of many best mechanical keyboards, is even cheaper than the TK101, however it lacks wi-fi connectivity, and whereas we loved utilizing it, we weren’t massively impressed with its construct high quality. It may be personalized, although, which can make it higher for avid gamers.
There’s additionally the Keychron C3 Professional, which is the best keyboard with mechanical switches and a compact format in our eyes. It’s even cheaper than the TK101, and we have been very impressed with the texture of its mechanical switches. However, once more, it lacks wi-fi capabilities.
Worth: 4 / 5
Gamakay TK101 overview: specs
|
Format |
98% |
|
Swap |
Mechanical |
|
Programmable keys |
No |
|
Dimensions |
17.5 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches (445 x 132 x 20mm) |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Sure (customizable) |
Gamakay TK101 overview: design and options
- Retro seems
- Thick chassis
- No software program
The TK101 harks again considerably to conventional mechanical keyboards, because of its chunky-looking keys and primary design. It’s actually not as brash as different gaming keyboards, though the multi-tonal colorways do add parts of curiosity and vibrancy.
Whereas the 98% kind issue of TK101 feels compact, the spacing of the keys continues to be large sufficient for snug finger placement. To attain this, although, devoted media keys and a quantity wheel have been sacrificed.
It’s moderately thick and heavy, though not as substantial as another mechanical keyboards. The general building is stable, and the mirrored again panel – which frames the USB-C port, energy swap and a compartment for storing the two.4GHz USB dongle – is a pleasant contact.
The 2-step toes are helpful, providing significant peak changes to satisfy particular person preferences. These additionally really feel well-made and didn’t create any wobble when propping up the keyboard.
The rounded double-shot PBT keycaps seem fairly thick regardless of their MDA profile, however they’re comfortably indented and their texturing feels premium, being easy whereas providing sufficient grip. If you happen to don’t like them, although, you’ll be able to swap them out, together with the switches, because the TK101 is hot-swappable.
Whereas varied keys have different capabilities accessible through the FN key, these aren’t labelled, which means you’ll need to acquaint your self with the handbook. Features embody media playback controls, opening Home windows Explorer, adjusting the RGB lighting.
These shortcuts are welcome, however it’s a disgrace there’s no software program for the TK101 to offer additional customizations, akin to key rebinding and macro creation. Many different keyboards, particularly these within the gaming sector, present such tweaks through software program.
What isn’t restricted, nevertheless, is connectivity. The TK101 can connect with units wirelessly through the two.4GHz USB dongle or through Bluetooth. As much as three units may be linked concurrently through the latter, which may be switched between by utilizing the FN and quantity keys. The USB port will also be used for establishing a wired connection in addition to charging, which provides to the flexibility of the TK101.
Design & options: 3 / 5
Gamakay TK101 overview: efficiency
- Properly damped
- Heavy tactile switches
- Might actually do with a wrist relaxation
The efficiency of the TK101 is considerably blended. The gasket mounting helps to cushion presses, whereas the tactile Pluto switches I had preinstalled in my unit have been effectively lubed. Nevertheless, they felt a little bit too heavy, providing extra resistance than others, which might trigger fatigue after some time. If you happen to’re after one thing extra snappy, then these switches in all probability received’t swimsuit you. Nevertheless, the MDA profile of the keycaps does not less than shorten journey distance.
For typing, although, I nonetheless discovered this profile too thick, as I usually want low profile keys for productiveness duties. And regardless of Gamakay’s claims relating to its sound-deadening design, I discovered the TK101 fairly noisy too.
Most egregious of all, although, is the dearth of wrist assist, because the aforementioned thickness of the chassis forces your palms to angle sharply irrespective of the way you modify the toes. This makes gaming equally uncomfortable when adopting the usual WASD place, and likewise causes your thumb to hit the sting of the area bar reasonably than the highest. Each these points have been remedied once I used my very own wrist relaxation. Mixed with its lack of customization choices, the TK101 isn’t as succesful because the best gaming keyboards.
I had no issues connecting through Bluetooth or the two.4GHz dongle, and switching between three Bluetooth units utilizing the keyboard shortcuts was straightforward and responsive. Nevertheless, the handbook states that switching to a 2.4GHz connection will also be achieved through these shortcuts, however this didn’t work for me; solely toggling the rear swap did.
I wasn’t in a position to check the battery to exhaustion, however it dipped to about 50% after a number of days of various use, connecting to a number of units through Bluetooth and the two.4GHz dongle. This isn’t precisely a stellar efficiency, and lots of wi-fi keyboards do last more.
Efficiency: 3.5 / 5
Ought to I purchase the Gamakay TK101?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
For a wi-fi mechanical keyboard, the TK101 is nice worth. It undercuts many rivals, though there are just a few cheaper alternate options. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design and options |
The TK101 is well-built and the double shot PBT keycaps really feel expectedly premium. Nevertheless, a wrist pad is sorely missing given how thick the chassis is, and the dearth of software program limits its potential. |
3 / 5 |
|
Efficiency |
The damped switches do really feel satisfying, however I did discover the tactile switches a little bit too heavy to actuate. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Total ranking |
The TK101 has some premium options for its price ticket, however the heavy switches and lack of customization drag it down considerably. |
3.5 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Gamakay TK101 overview: additionally take into account
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Gamakay TK101 |
Logitech G213 Prodigy |
Keychron C3 Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Format |
98% |
Full measurement |
TKL |
|
Swap |
Mechanical |
Membrane |
Mechanical |
|
Programmable keys |
No |
Sure |
Sure |
|
Dimensions |
17.5 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches (445 x 132 x 20mm) |
17.8 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches (452 x 218 x 33mm) |
14.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches (365 x 138 x 30mm) |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Sure (customizable) |
Sure (customizable) |
Sure (customizable) |
How I examined the Gamakay TK101
- Examined for a number of days
- Used for gaming and productiveness
- Plentiful keyboard expertise
I examined the TK101 for a number of days, throughout which period I used it for working, gaming, and basic looking.
I did loads of typing with it, and performed Counter-Strike 2, a superb check for any peripheral given the sport’s demand for quick and correct inputs.
I’ve been PC gaming for over 25 years, and have expertise reviewing keyboards for each gaming and productiveness functions.