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Roccat Magma & Pyro: Mid-range keyboards are less hot than advertised

May 8, 2021

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Roccat's mid-range keyboards Pyro and Magma rely on membrane and mechanical key technology. According to the manufacturer, both should be quite hot. A closer look at the data sheet lets the temperatures drop again quickly.

Pyro and Magma are very similar in their basic concept. They have a palm rest, which is attached to the chassis with plastic brackets, and an open key bed that creates the impression of “free-standing” keys, and can be reprogrammed using software. The “EasyShift” function is also available to both of them – Roccat's name for a second function level that can be activated in conjunction with the Capslock key. In both cases, the “media keys” advertised on the product pages turn out to be mere double functions that can be called up with the aid of FN key combinations. In normal parlance, it is more like “media functions” instead of dedicated buttons.

Technology makes the difference

The differences lie in the technology, which clearly distinguishes the two products from one another. The Roccat Magma, which costs around 60 euros, uses rubber dome buttons for signal acquisition with an atypically high key rollover of 26. This has an impact on the lighting, as only very few membrane keyboards use an LED per button. Roccat also illuminates the keys indirectly in zones.

So 105 LEDs do not have to be used for 105 keys, but in this case ten LEDs for five zones. Roccat elevates this fact to a feature with a transparent button bed, which is also illuminated as a light guide and sets the appearance apart from models of the competition. The keyboard does not have any additional equipment that could also fill this role. It is in competition with the Razer Cynosa, which has real single-key lighting, and the Corsair K55 RGB Pro, which also divides its LEDs into five zones, but has real macro and media keys for the same price.

At a price of 100 euros, the Roccat Pyro relies on mechanical buttons from TTC in a red, linear design. The colorful key bed is no longer needed in favor of the aluminum plate that is common here, with which the keys are stabilized. There is also a rotary control for volume control. The key rollover is not specified, but due to the technical basis alone, it is at least 6.

Marketing on the test stand

< p class = "p text-width"> All of this makes the Pyro a mechanical keyboard “with the most features for less than 100 euros”, writes Roccat. A quick look at the price comparison confirms this statement at first glance.

If the manufacturer of the buttons is left out, the subtleties remain: For example, the Riotoro Ghostwriter with additional buttons or the XPG Summoner with Cherry MX buttons, magnetically attached palm rest, USB pass-through port and additional key caps included in the scope of delivery. “More” also in the sense of “better” is definitely there on paper, even if only sporadically and not without compromises, such as the loss of color synchronization in the Roccat ecosystem.

Both keyboards can currently only be pre-ordered via the Roccat website, delivery should start at the end of the month.

Roccat Pyro Roccat Magma size (L × W × H): 44.7 × 15.2 × 3.6 cm
palm rest 45.2 × 15.7 × 3.9 cm
palm rest layout : 105 ISO Weight: 1,100 g 870 g Cable: 1.80 m, USB 2.0 hub function: – Key rollover: 6-KRO,? 26-KRO Switch: TTC Red Rubber Dome Buttons: Shape: cylindrical
Material: ABS plastic
Labeling: laser cut Additional buttons: Scroll wheel (volume) – Media functions: Mute, volume, play/pause, stop, forwards/backwards Additional functions: brightness (regulate, switch off) – lighting: color: RGB
modes: breathing effect, wave effect, reactive mode, circumferential activation, gaming lighting, color loop
other: individual LED profiles color: RGB
modes : Breathing effect, wave effect, gaming lighting, color loop
other: individual LED profiles macros & amp; Programming: fully programmable (including secondary occupancy) Price: € 100 € 60