MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL review – a great travel gaming keyboard

The MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile gaming keyboard could have been in the marketplace since 2019, however a TKL mannequin hasn’t proven up till this 12 months. Forgoing the numpad could seem sacrilegious to some, however this trimmed down version of the GK50 has some simple advantages over its full fats counterpart and opponents. The truth is, it might be one of the best model to go for should you’re attempting to find a reliable compact keyboard to finish your setup that gained’t break the financial institution.

I’ve spent the previous three months or so with the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL, and it’s confirmed to be a stable travelling companion. Whether or not I’m utilizing it with my private gaming PC or with one other machine on the go, I’m but to come across any actual issues with it. Nevertheless, there are some things that I’d wish to see improved in future revisions of the keyboard.

Design

There’s so much to like in regards to the design of the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL, such because the gunmetal gray brushed metallic high plate that pleasingly contrasts the matte black octagonal key caps. This helps the keyboard to subtly pop, and the dearth of branding provides it a usually clear aesthetic, save for the considerably refined inclusion of the corporate dragon ‘G’ emblem subsequent to the arrow keys.

A detachable USB Kind-C cable is a welcome sight, particularly on a gaming keyboard that sits firmly within the mid-range of the market with its $84.99 USD / £89.99 GBP value level. This not solely makes the GK50 TKL simpler to move, however must also assist extend its lifespan, as you’ll have the ability to swap out the wire with a brand new one if it breaks as a substitute of binning the complete keyboard.

On the GK50 TKL’s underside, you’ll discover 5 rubber ft that assist it regular as you fervently reposition your self in a sport of Name of Obligation: Warzone or quickly pull off your champions’ talents in League of Legends. Suffice to say, you gained’t have to fret in regards to the keyboard wobbling throughout any form of excessive depth gaming, even should you deploy the retractable plastic ft to extend its incline as much as 11 levels.

Shaving off its numpad provides the GK50 TKL a smaller footprint than its commonplace dimension brethren, but it surely’s the low profile mechanical keys that contribute essentially the most to this keyboard feeling each petite and highly effective. I’ll take extra in regards to the efficiency of its Kailh Low Profile White switches later within the assessment, however for now I’ll say that they’ve an exquisite tactile and clicky really feel to them. This may swimsuit many people, however you may wish to contemplate an alternative choice should you’re in a shared gaming area or want quieter keys.

The one actual adverse factor I’ve to say in regards to the keyboard’s design is its typeface. The font on the GK50 TKL’s keycaps leans a bit an excessive amount of right into a ‘gamer’ aesthetic for my tastes, however my companion discovered it troublesome to make out a number of letters because of their dyslexia. Clearly, this isn’t a lot of a problem should you can confidently contact sort, but it surely’d be nice to see MSI design future peripherals with this type of accessibility in thoughts.

Options

Don’t let the GK50 TKL’s dimension idiot you, as MSI has managed to cram in a shocking quantity of versatility. Let’s begin with the obvious characteristic: RGB. There’s the standard assortment of preset modes and per-key customisable lighting, which might sync with different MSI Mystic Gentle peripherals like your gaming mouse. Moreover, video games that help Ambient Hyperlink like Far Cry 6 or Murderer’s Creed Valhalla will have the ability to take management of the LEDs to offer extra immersive lighting.

That is all pretty commonplace stuff, however I’m joyful to report which you could management a terrific of the RGB with no need any software program in anyway. Utilizing the perform (FN) key on the GK50 TKL, which MSI has stylised as its dragon ‘G’ emblem, you possibly can management the mode, brightness, color, route, and pace of its built-in lighting results. At first, I didn’t assume I’d use these options all that usually, however certain sufficient, I’m now making full use of those shortcuts as a substitute of diving in to the MSI Middle software to make changes.

The LEDs on the GK50 TKL aren’t as blindingly vivid as these discovered on the Ducky One 3, however they simply rank amongst a number of the finest I’ve seen on a gaming keyboard. Lights shine brilliantly each via and across the keycaps, which ought to vastly please anybody courageous sufficient to name themselves an RGB aficionado. Personally, I’m somebody who sticks with a static color and calls it a day, but it surely’s onerous for me to disclaim the standard of the lighting right here.

In lieu of devoted keys, media controls are additionally included as a part of the FN ensemble, providing you with a straightforward solution to entry the standard assortment of quantity, skip, and play/pause instructions. There’s even a built-in perform to convey up MSI Afterburner, should you don’t have it launch on startup for no matter motive, which I feel is a properly impressed contact.

For those who set up the MSI Middle software program on to your system, you’ll discover a macro programming suite for all you energy customers on the market. Apart from that, although, there’s little or no motive to run it, save for syncing up the GK50 TKL along with your different bits of Mystic Gentle appropriate equipment.

Whereas not strictly part of the keyboard, I do wish to shortly point out how a lot of I’m a fan of the included drawstring journey bag. This accent handily retains the keyboard good and comfortable inside my backpack as I ferry it between the workplace and my gaming desk, and it’s a big a part of what makes travelling with the GK50 TKL such a pleasure.

Efficiency

So, the MSI Vigor GK50 TKL definitely appears to be like the a part of a gaming keyboard, however does it really feel like one? The quick reply: sure. The star high quality of the GK50 TKL is its Kailh White Low Profile switches, which boast a complete journey of three.0mm quite than the 4.0mm usually present in different mechanical keyboards. This will not sound like so much, however this successfully makes inputs 25% faster, which is one thing gamers of all ability ranges ought to have the ability to recognize.

After many aggressive and single participant periods utilizing the GK50 TKL, I can’t say it’s made climbing ranked ladders or overcoming troublesome challenges any simpler, but it surely by no means felt prefer it hampered me both. Like one of the best gaming keyboard, it felt like a seamless extension of my will and by no means noticeably let me down in any scenario. This additionally speaks to the nice implementation of 6+N key rollover, which is of course at its finest when it goes unnoticed.

It’s a snug keyboard for prolonged intervals of time because of its ergonomic design, whether or not gaming or typing. Nevertheless, I do want that MSI had included a removable wrist relaxation within the field, simply to provide the additional added stage of consolation. Significantly, it’s onerous to surrender the form of help that the Razer Huntsman V2 gives you when you’ve received used to it.

Whereas I can’t converse to the quoted 50 million keystroke lifespan, I didn’t discover any noticeable put on on my assessment unit after heavy use over three months (together with stints in my backpack within the included journey bag). And regardless of solely weighing 560g, the GK50 TKL continues to really feel as surprisingly sturdy because the day I pulled it out of the field.

The GK50 TKL is an especially performant gaming keyboard, however the 50gf operation power could make it somewhat troublesome to sort on even after utilizing it for a while. This mixed with its tenkeyless kind issue makes it much less suited as an all-in-one answer for these seeking to sport and be productive with a single keyboard.

Verdict

I’m completely impressed with the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL, it gives incredible construct high quality and a surprisingly versatile characteristic set that you just’d count on from extra premium gaming keyboards. For $84.99 USD / £89.99 GBP, it’s onerous to argue with the quantity of worth you get from it.

It’s not good, thoughts, and I do hope that MSI can deal with a number of the points I’ve highlighted in a successor to the GK50, significantly the gamery and considerably inaccessible typeface. Lastly, whereas it’s straightforward sufficient to seek out in UK and EU territories, the TKL mannequin doesn’t seem like broadly out there within the US but. If you will get your fingers on it, nonetheless, the positives far outweigh the adverse right here, and I can fortunately advocate this keyboard.