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Gamakay TK75 V2: one-minute evaluation
The Gamakay TK75 V2 is a wi-fi mechanical keyboard that is designed to match the efficiency of dearer rivals whereas being extra reasonably priced.
It adopts a retro-modern aesthetic, with a thick, squared-off chassis paying homage to extra conventional mechanical keyboard designs. Nonetheless, its pristine white base, mixed with some alternative colours for sure keys, helps to make the TK75 V2 extra interesting, and the RGB lighting provides vibrancy, too.
The TK75 V2 is nicely constructed, with each panel of the unit feeling strong to the contact. The PBT keycaps are particularly premium, sporting a super-smooth texture, rivaling these adorning the best keyboards.
Many keyboards of this depth often embody a wrist-rest; sadly, this is not the case with the TK75 V2. Nonetheless, I discovered it completely comfy to make use of with out one (and I practically all the time use one). That is largely due to the two-stage toes and the ahead tilt of the keys themselves.
The format is pretty compact, but the keys are nonetheless simple to hit precisely, and Gamakay has managed to squeeze in a quantity wheel and a small TFT display screen.
This could show info comparable to battery life and CPU temperatures, and there’s a bit for adjusting the RGB lighting. There is a timer, too, which reveals how lengthy you’ve been utilizing the TK75 V2 for, which is beneficial for individuals who wish to hold monitor of such stats. Word that the display screen is kind of small and the decision isn’t the sharpest; however many others don’t fare significantly better.
Gamakay additionally gives software program to customise the TK75 V2. This affords a delightful variety of rebinding choices, with a number of layers that may be switched between utilizing Fn shortcuts. Talking of which, the inventory Fn shortcuts on the TK75 V2 are surprisingly quite a few, making it a flexible keyboard.
The software program isn’t excellent, although, and it might probably undergo from sluggish loading instances (uncommon for peripheral software program) and it did crash as soon as throughout my time with it. It additionally lacks among the extra superior options and features that avid gamers would welcome, comparable to Simple-Shift.
Probably the most optimistic facet concerning the TK75 V2 is the typing efficiency. The ultra-damped tactile switches in my unit have been an absolute pleasure to make use of, being tremendous satisfying but extraordinarily quiet – maybe the quietest I’ve ever used. For gaming it was equally adroit, and the switches proved responsive sufficient for quick inputs.
The connectivity choices of the TK75 V2 are spectacular as nicely, with Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz choices accessible. With the previous, you possibly can hot-switch between three units utilizing Fn shortcuts. There’s additionally a wired connection, though the USB port doesn’t seem to supply essentially the most strong bodily connection; even so, I didn’t expertise any dropouts with it.
The battery lifetime of the TK75 V2 appears affordable, because it dipped just one bar out of 5 following a full day of assorted use and connectivity modes. Nonetheless, charging it appeared unduly sluggish, because it failed to succeed in full capability after greater than 5 hours; it’s potential that is one thing that may be fastened in a firmware replace, nonetheless.
The TK75 V2 affords rather a lot for the cash: mechanical switches, good construct high quality, customization software program, and a number of wi-fi connectivity choices. Better of all, efficiency is nice.
Nonetheless, there are even cheaper options accessible that provide nice efficiency. As an example, the Roccat Magma is nice for gaming, and the Keychron C3 Pro affords mechanical switches at a significantly low worth. All issues thought of, although, the TK75 V2 does sufficient to earn its place alongside the large names within the area.
Gamakay TK75 V2 evaluation: worth and availability
- $89.99 / £75 / $AU148
- Accessible now with two change varieties
- Nice worth for the spec
The Gamakay TK75 V2 prices $89.99 / £75 / $AU148 and is on the market now, configurable with both Pegasus (tactile) or Phoenix (linear) switches as inventory (though this isn’t everlasting, because the board is hot-swappable). It comes with a braided USB-C cable, keycap puller, and spare case screws.
For a wi-fi mechanical keyboard with quite a few wi-fi connectivity choices, the TK75 V2 represents good worth. Nonetheless, in order for you a fair cheaper mechanical keyboard, the Keychron C3 Professional is among the greatest. We discovered this board’s switches tactile but comparatively quiet, and you may customise it by way of QMK or VIA; nonetheless, this doesn’t supply the extent of tweakability that avid gamers hanker for.
In order for you the best gaming keyboard whereas retaining value down, then the Roccat Magma is a superb various. It doesn’t have mechanical switches; however regardless of this, we nonetheless discovered it delivered really feel, and supplied helpful customization choices, too.
Worth: 4.5 / 5
Gamakay TK75 V2 evaluation: specs
|
Format: |
75% |
|
Swap: |
Mechanical |
|
Programmable keys: |
Sure |
|
Dimensions: |
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches / 325 x 136 x 28mm |
|
RGB or backlighting: |
Sure (customizable) |
Gamakay TK75 V2 evaluation: design and options
- Retro but trendy seems to be
- First rate construct high quality
- Helpful software program
The TK75 V2 has a retro-inspired design, with its thick and sq. physique. Nonetheless, the intense white shade helps to modernize its look, as do the assorted keycap colours, which all complement one another nicely. Mixed with the vivid RGB lighting, it is a vibrant-looking board.
Regardless of appearances, the TK75 V2 isn’t weighty, particularly at this worth level. The identical is true of the PBT keycaps, which really feel silky {smooth}.
The compact format helps to maintain its general dimension to a minimal, but Gamakay has nonetheless managed to incorporate a quantity wheel and even a small TFT display screen. The previous operates easily, with mild notching to supply some helpful suggestions.
The 2-stage toes are additionally nicely made, with the mechanisms feeling strong and secure. Nonetheless, I did discover them slightly too simple to knock down when transferring the TK75 V2 round, however it is a small gripe. A bonus function is the slot below the left foot to retailer the included 2.4GHz dongle, which is helpful.
The included cable is lengthy, and is unexpectedly shiny, including some aptitude to an in any other case drab accent. It’s significantly better than the cable included with the TK101, though the bodily connection didn’t appear essentially the most safe, because it had a small quantity of wobble to it. Fortunately, although, I didn’t expertise any dropouts.
The TK75 V2 additionally features a TFT display screen, which shows varied facets, comparable to battery life (represented with 5 bars, not a share) and CPU temperature. There’s additionally a run timer, which is helpful for individuals who like to trace their utilization. The menu is managed by way of the amount wheel, and there’s additionally a bit to regulate the RGB lighting.
Nonetheless, the show space is kind of small, and the decision isn’t that sharp – however these are costs you possibly can degree at many built-in screens. The place it does fall behind its rivals, although, is the dearth of game-specific info, which boards such because the SteelSeries Apex Professional supply.
Regardless of the dearth of devoted shortcut keys, there are many shortcuts accessible on the TK75 V2 by way of the Fn key. These embody typical features comparable to media playback controls, opening the calculator or file explorer, and switching between related units, to call only a few. Sadly, none of those is labelled on the keys involved, so that you’ll want the included guide handy.
The shortcuts will be custom-made utilizing the Gamakay software program, together with particular person key presses, which will be remapped to different characters, media controls, system shortcuts, mouse buttons and actions, and combos with the modifier keys. Sadly, although, the amount wheel can’t be custom-made.
There are eight layers for remapping keys, though layers aren’t accessible for Fn shortcuts. Additionally, solely three layers will be switched between utilizing Fn and the Z, X, and C keys.
The software program additionally includes a macro recorder, in addition to a bit to customise the TRT display screen, with choices to attract your personal photos and animations, or add them out of your recordsdata.
All these customization choices are welcome, but it surely’s a disgrace there aren’t extra gaming-related tweaks, comparable to Simple-Shift performance; and though you possibly can alter sensitivity of presses, I barely seen a distinction between high and low settings.
What’s extra, the GUI isn’t the sharpest, plus you will encounter loading instances as varied settings modifications take impact, which is uncommon for peripheral software program. I additionally skilled a crash on one event; however in the principle, it ran nicely sufficient.
Design & options: 4 / 5
Gamakay TK75 V2 evaluation: efficiency
- Incredible dampening
- Comfy angle
- Helpful connectivity choices
The TK75 V2 actually comes into its personal when you begin typing. The tactile Pegasus switches in my unit have been a delight to make use of, with an ultra-damped really feel, but nonetheless offering loads of snap and suggestions (and should you don’t like them, they’re hot-swappable).
The Cherry keycaps are additionally comparatively skinny in comparison with these on different mechanical keyboards, which I welcome as somebody who prefers typing on laptop-style boards. The slight downward slant of the switches was additionally welcome on this regard. The entire above make the TK75 V2 one of many best mechanical keyboards for typing that I’ve ever used.
What’s extra, it’s additionally one of many quietest keyboards I’ve used, consistent with Gamakay’s declare. When you want your key presses with extra click on than thock, then the closely damped switches of the TK75 V2 may not be for you. Nonetheless, I wager most will welcome the mix of simple actuation and cushioned impacts.
When gaming, the TK75 V2 performs admirably. There’s sufficient snap to presses and response instances are adequate for many avid gamers. Nonetheless, the aforementioned lack of changes and customizations particularly for gaming is a disgrace.
Regardless of the aforementioned thickness of the physique, I didn’t discover it uncomfortable to make use of the TK75 V2 with out a wrist-rest, which is lucky since one is not included. The toes supply significant changes, too, which helps to get the precise angle.
The varied connectivity modes work nicely for essentially the most half, and switching between them is fast and straightforward by way of the toggle change. Switching between units related by way of Bluetooth utilizing the Fn shortcuts was equally hassle-free.
Nonetheless, despite the fact that you are supposed to have the ability to use these shortcuts to manually change between Bluetooth, 2.4GHz and wired modes as nicely, this didn’t work for me – it was solely the toggle change that labored for me.
The battery lifetime of the TK75 V2 appears good: since there’s no share supplied by way of the software program or the TFT display screen, I used to be unable to gauge depletion exactly; however I can say that after a day’s price of use – throughout which I typed and gamed, and switched usually between Bluetooth and a couple of.4GHz modes – it solely dropped a single bar.
Charging the TK75 V2 by way of a desktop PC proved disappointingly sluggish, nonetheless. Even after 5 and a half hours, the keyboard nonetheless wasn’t at full energy, reaching solely 4 bars out of 5. It’s potential this is perhaps a firmware concern, so there’s each likelihood an replace will treatment this in some unspecified time in the future.
Efficiency: 4.5 / 5
Ought to I purchase the Gamakay TK75 V2?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Ranking |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
The TK75 V2 has a tempting worth, given it has a number of wi-fi connectivity modes, mechanical hot-swappable switches, and doesn’t skimp on efficiency. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design and options |
The TK75 V2 seems to be good and is constructed nicely, and the thick chassis remains to be comfy with out a wrist relaxation. The software program has good customizations, too, however some gaming tweaks are lacking. |
4 / 5 |
|
Efficiency |
The damped switches are nice for typing and gaming, whereas being close to silent. Connectivity can also be good. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
General score |
The TK75 V2 affords rather a lot by way of efficiency and spec, but retains the worth comparatively low on the similar time. Hardcore avid gamers may want for a bit extra focus of their space, however for everybody else, it’s unlikely to disappoint. |
4 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Don’t purchase it if…
Gamakay TK75 V2 evaluation: additionally take into account
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Gamakay TK75 V2 |
Keychron C3 Professional |
Roccat Magma |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Format |
75% |
TKL |
Full dimension |
|
Swap |
Mechanical |
Mechanical |
Membrane |
|
Programmable keys |
Sure |
Sure |
Sure |
|
Dimensions |
12.8 x 5.4 x 1.1in / 325 x 136 x 28mm |
14.4 x 5.4 x 1.2in / 365 x 138 x 30mm |
17.8 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches / 452 x 157 x 39mm |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Sure (customizable) |
No |
Sure (customizable) |
How I examined the Gamakay TK75 V2
- Examined for a number of days
- Used for gaming and dealing
- Plentiful keyboard expertise
I examined the TK75 V2 for a number of days, throughout which era I used it for working, gaming, and basic looking. I examined it on two totally different Windows 10 PCs.
I spent numerous time typing with TK75 V2 (together with for this very evaluation), and performed S.T.A.L.Ok.E.R. 2: Coronary heart of Chornobyl, a first-person shooter requiring fast inputs and wider key use past these within the WASD place.
I’ve reviewed quite a few keyboards up to now, masking fashions designed for gaming in addition to for productiveness. I have been PC gaming for greater than a decade, and have owned many keyboards from totally different manufacturers at totally different worth factors and with varied change varieties.