Hyte Keeb TKL review: a keyboard for the fans

Hyte Keeb TKL

MSRP $180.00

“Adore it or hate it, there is no denying the Hyte Keeb TKL is a good keyboard.”

Professionals

• Unbelievable sound and really feel out of the field
• As much as 4 layers of key assignments
• Extraordinarily shiny RGB lighting
• Scorching-swappable PCB
• Multi-function twin rotary dials

Cons

• No per-key RGB
• Solely two on-board profiles
• Inconsistent legends on key caps

One take a look at the picture above, and also you’ll know instantly for those who love or hate the Hyte Keeb TKL. I can prevent a while and allow you to know instantly that it’s one of many best gaming keyboards you should buy with regards to sound and really feel. However the Keeb TKL is a press release, and though it’s a press release I’m certain will resonate with some, it’s not one that may resonate with all.

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The Keeb TKL units out to do one thing completely different, all whereas paying cautious consideration to the enthusiast-level options which have slowly made their manner into mainstream gaming keyboards. And it principally succeeds. Wanting some software program points, it is a keyboard with a improbable typing really feel out of the field and an undeniably distinctive design.

Hyte Keeb TKL specs

An plain design

One factor’s for certain — you’ll by no means mistake the Hyte Keeb TKL for an additional keyboard. Hyte is thought for pushing the design envelope with merchandise just like the Hyte Y70 Touch, however the Keeb TKL is undoubtedly its most radical design to this point. One take a look at this keyboard, and also you’ll both adore it or hate it. If nothing else, the Keeb TKL calls for a response, even when it isn’t a optimistic one, and you may’t say the identical for keyboards just like the Razer Black Widow V4 Pro.

It’s not for everybody, however I’ve grown to understand what Hyte pulled off right here. You’d by no means assume there’s a number of design house to take a keyboard in one other path, however Hyte managed to try this with the Keeb TKL. The star of the present is the polycarbonate shell that surrounds the Keeb TKL, which carries gentle from the 155-pixel qRGB array across the keyboard (qRGB is Hyte’s own standard for RGB measurement). It makes your keyboard appear to be it’s floating on a cloud.

Mixed with Hyte’s CNVS desk mat, which has its personal array of RGB lighting, the Keeb TKL seems improbable. A sluggish coloration wave transitions out of the keyboard and thru the perimeters of the mouse pad. Even towards manufacturers like Razer, Corsair, and Steelseries with their very own dense RGB ecosystems, the Keeb TKL actually brings lighting collectively.

For extra sensible design, Hyte consists of two magnetic ft on the again of the keyboard permitting you to go from a typing angle of three.73 levels to six.06 levels (the latter felt far more snug for me). You additionally get a double-shot PBT key caps, which characteristic a really shallow pudding design. There’s a contact of a clear layer on the backside of the important thing caps, a lot in contrast to the big clear sides you see on conventional pudding key caps.

The development of the important thing caps is improbable. They’re thick, and the tops are easy, a lot in contrast to the gritty really feel on one thing the Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96. Nonetheless, there are a few points. They is likely to be too thick for their very own good, as lighting via the legends is pretty inconsistent. As well as, Hyte is utilizing the moderately distinctive OEM profile for the important thing caps. It’s not a knock towards the Keeb TKL, however the sculpted corners of the profile is sort of the adjustment for those who’re coming from a unique profile.

In any other case, Hyte packs a thick aluminum plate into the underside of the keyboard, which provides it some weight and retains it firmly seated in your desk. A keyboard weight is much too typically missed amongst extra mainstream choices, so I’m completely happy to see it right here. Nevertheless, Hyte situates RGB lights across the weight on the underside of the keyboard, and it will get shockingly heat because of this.

Nice out of the field

Hyte calls the Keeb TKL a “fashionable human interface,” which units a reasonably excessive commonplace for the typing really feel. And fortunately, the Keeb principally lives up these expectations. Though the Keeb TKL sports activities a novel design, it’s clear Hyte invested a number of time in packing this keyboard stuffed with enthusiast-level {hardware}. You’re getting a gasket mount like I noticed on the Asus ROG Azoth, however that’s turning into pretty widespread amongst high-end gaming keyboards. Hyte shoots forward with regards to the smaller particulars.

The switches aren’t simply rebranded Cherry choices. Hyte makes use of its Fluffy Lavender switches, that are linear and include a light-weight feeling in comparison with Cherry Reds. They’ve an actuation drive of 36 grams and actuate at simply 1.5mm. Extra necessary to the texture, Hyte lubricates the switches with Kryox 205g0 — the usual for swap lube. As well as, Hyte makes use of the identical lube on the Durock V2 screw-in stabilizers. It’s straightforward to put in writing off these stabilizers, however they make a world of distinction, even up towards keyboards just like the Corsair K65 Plus.

The sound and really feel out of the field is shockingly good for a $180 keyboard. I don’t love using an aluminum plate, however Hyte balances the high-end frequencies out with numerous layers of Poron foam contained in the case. This is likely one of the first keyboards I’ve examined that may truly maintain up out of the field in comparison with fanatic choices just like the Wobkey Rain75 or Meletrix Boog75.

However you may make it higher. Hyte makes use of a hot-swappable PCB that helps 3- or 5-pin switches, although sadly with north-facing RGBs. I threw my most well-liked WS Morandi switches into the keyboard, and it fully remodeled the sound. It’s one factor to get sound out of the field, however the actual testomony to construct high quality is how the keyboard holds up when you’ve made it your personal. Hyte undoubtedly excels on that entrance with the Keeb TKL.

One distinctive characteristic

Hyte packs devoted media controls into the Keeb TKL, however in true Hyte vogue, they aren’t as easy as you may count on. Beginning with the media keys, Hyte truly makes use of low-profile tactile mechanical switches for the media keys, together with low-profile keycaps. They really feel fully completely different than the common keys, virtually like hitting a low-profile typewriter. It’s a small element, however as somebody who truly makes use of completely different switches for media keys in my private keyboard, I can recognize the eye Hyte paid to that element.

The extra attention-grabbing addition are the twin rotary dials. By default, the left dial adjusts your quantity whereas the precise adjusts the brightness of your lighting, however you’ll be able to rebind these dials to different instructions inside the Hyte Nexus software program (extra on that subsequent). There are some fundamental choices, similar to the flexibility to scroll pages, zoom, or swap between apps, however Hyte goes additional.

You too can use the dials to clean the timeline in a video editor, cycle your instruments in inventive apps, and even alter your brush measurement in Adobe apps. The twin scroll wheels look a bit unwieldy, and I want there have been a approach to take away them. There’s no denying that Hyte makes good use of the additional house, although. It brings a number of the tactile management you get with one thing just like the Cooler Master MasterHub on to your keyboard, which is nice to see.

Though the curler equipment isn’t detachable, the dials themselves are. They’re hooked up with magnets, and Hyte tells me it hopes to have further equipment for the curler sooner or later. These aren’t accessible now, nevertheless.

Inside Hyte Nexus

To handle the Keeb TKL, you’ll must obtain the Hyte Nexus software program. I first tried this software program out with Hyte’s Thicc Q60 cooler, and it’s one of many extra attention-grabbing software program utilities I’ve used. Out of the gate, it’s leagues extra engaging than Corsair iCue and Asus Armoury Crate, and it doesn’t instantly overwhelm you with adverts or extraneous settings. Nevertheless, there’s a studying curve to utilizing Nexus. It’s a robust utility, however like Hyte’s merchandise, the software program doesn’t follow the established order.

Hyte adopts a spotlight much like NZXT’s CAM software program, utilizing Nexus as each a utility to handle the Keeb TKL and to indicate system stats like your GPU and CPU temperatures. These numerous features of the software program are grouped into widgets, and also you’re free so as to add, take away, or swap widgets to make the house display screen your personal.

Within the keyboard settings, Hyte offers you two onboard profiles, which is a bit low. Nevertheless, every of these profiles consists of as much as 4 layers of key assignments. By default, the Operate key will momentarily unlock your second layer, however you’re free to rebind the way you get to the extra layers inside Nexus. Hyte consists of momentary layer switching, toggles, and even an choice to return to your prime layer. And in every layer, you’ll be able to rebind the keys to macros, mouse keys, and capabilities like opening your net browser. Even with simply two onboard profiles, you’ll be able to pack a ton of performance into the Keeb TKL for those who don’t thoughts getting your palms soiled.

My important situation with all of those layers is that you could simply get misplaced in them. Hyte doesn’t provide you with an choice to, for instance, change your lighting when switching profiles, which might make it a lot simpler to get your bearings. In actual fact, Hyte doesn’t provide you with a number of lighting choices usually. In Nexus, the main target is on an RGB ecosystem, so as an alternative of particular person assignments, you place completely different units within a window so your RGB lighting can stretch throughout them.

It really works properly when you have a number of Hyte merchandise, such because the CNVS desk mat, however there’s nonetheless no per-key RGB project. That’s an enormous draw back to the Keeb TKL in comparison with the competitors for those who wish to customise your RGB lighting to suit your distinctive setup.

Do you have to purchase the Hyte Keeb TKL?

Hyte constructed a terrific keyboard with the Keeb TKL between its enthusiast-grade building and wealth of options. However the largest issue with regards to a shopping for resolution is the design. The Keeb TKL calls for fast, and generally excessive, reactions. It doesn’t matter how good the keyboard itself is — for those who don’t just like the design, the Keeb TKL simply isn’t for you.

That’s OK. I recognize how Hyte is trying to push keyboard designs ahead with the Keeb TKL, and the way it serves as a press release piece, particularly when you have different Hyte merchandise. Not many keyboards can declare that. The excellent news for those who’re a fan of the design is that you simply don’t have to surrender on the keyboard entrance. Hyte by no means sacrificed the typing really feel in its pursuit of making a keyboard that stands out, and it’s been a pleasure typing and gaming on the keyboard over the previous few weeks.

Though design is the largest issue right here, there’s some authentic criticism of the Keeb TKL in comparison with different mainstream choices. Nexus is a robust app, but it surely nonetheless wants per-key RGB assignments. As well as, the important thing caps have nice building, however I’d wish to see Hyte pay nearer consideration to the legends in future revisions given the inconsistent shine the present key caps supply.