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Mechanical cheap keyboard in the test: risk and accuracy help bargain hunters

Oct 15, 2021

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If you follow the news reports, mechanical keyboards “for gamers” currently seem to cost well over 100 euros. How wrong the picture is is shown by a search at the very other end of the spectrum for the premium version of Wish, the Amazon Marketplace. Despite many pitfalls, it is a close victory for the saver.

Table of contents

1 Risk and accuracy help bargain hunters
1. The variety of pitfalls
2. The Gamenote keyboard
3. With “RGGBTL” lighting
2 Save in practice and conclusion
1. Unknown buttons
2. Conclusion: Save, yes ?!

The red-skinned avaricious friend has a clear mission. We are looking for a keyboard with an ISO layout, i.e. at least one large input key, if not with a German key assignment. The layout can be more compact, mechanical buttons are a basic requirement, RGB lighting (gaming!) Is mandatory. Because waiting is alien to the modern man of the 21st century, the product must also be delivered immediately and with reasonable customer support. Direct imports or dealers based in Shenzhen are ruled out. That's why people buy from the wish of trust: the Amazon marketplace.

The variety of pitfalls

Among the numerous offers, there is a considerable number of tempting offers of all sizes and form factors from manufacturers of the most creative names. Full-size formats can be purchased, as can the ultra-compact Hacker layout with only 60 keys. In between, almost anything is possible in the layout laboratory of inexpensive ingenuity. The selection can be narrowed down quickly: An ANSI layout often requires more getting used to in German-speaking countries. It flies out of the selection as well as crude layouts to the right of the letter keys, the compositions of which promise pain even in pictures. Occasionally there are reasons why established companies refrain from such “innovations”.

A clever fox looks closely at the pictures and the description anyway, because some providers cleverly suggest the existence of mechanical buttons, but only mean the typing feel, if at all, and use rubber dome models. “Mecha-mechanical” buttons, however, are nothing more than rubber buttons with a chic name. The supposed bargain quickly turns into a fairly expensive non-name keyboard. It is helpful if it is specifically stated which color coding the buttons have, also as a reassurance about the existence of a mechanical design. To catch a certain brand or a brand at all, one should say goodbye to that when looking for the lowest price. Eyes are also required when it comes to lighting. Only if you read carefully and look at the product reviews to be on the safe side, you will find out whether the five colors shown are created by monochrome or real RGB LEDs. You can also find out in this way whether the colored lighting has only one permanently flashing light mode.

In terms of price, the Wunderland (too) promising products are best below 50 euros. At this limit, however, test reports outside the Amazon platform should already be available, since the first keyboards from well-known manufacturers are priced at the same level. Depending on the willingness to compromise, real mechanical input devices start from the Amazon warehouse for as little as 15 euros in the ANSI layout. If all the criteria mentioned above are to be covered as far as possible, 25 to 30 euros must be invested.

The Gamenote keyboard

For the test run the choice falls on a “Gamenote” of the type “60% mechanical gaming keyboard”. According to the description, it is a “wired 72-key mini gaming keyboard with blue switches and LED backlighting, compact gaming keyboard for PC gamers and work, black”, and according to product images 2 and 3, it also has an ISO layout.

The crude name is at least functional, and the translation of the English product description is pleasantly understandable. Hopefully it is true that Gamenote correctly refers to keys as keys and not as keys; only a “driver” becomes a “dryer”. To be such squeamish about it would mean, however, not to have understood the mission. It should, may and must be saved, because a good and expensive translation does not contribute anything to the quality of the product itself. The fact that the packaging also consists of a simple black cardboard is to be welcomed, because it does not have to be colorful or complex for the waste paper. However, he at least reveals that Havit is behind Gamenote, a Chinese company that operates an EU shop and has been in business for a long time.

Anything else the saver gets can justifiably be described as “stable”. The case does not wobble, stands securely, and does not like to bend. The fact that a screw was only screwed in halfway during production: a free gift. It would not have been noticed without a close inspection of the test scenario. You are moving on the level of a Dacia and not in the league of Audi and Co. A not quite correctly engaged retaining lug, which leaves the housing a little open at one corner, fits into the picture.

With “RGGBTL” lighting

The fox gets more than expected elsewhere, namely in addition to USB with a Type-C connector, real “RGGBTL” lighting that lights up in red, yellow, green, blue, turquoise and purple and optionally in 17 annoying flashing thunderstorms. The use of differently colored LEDs cleverly suggests RGB lighting on product images that does not even exist – “RGB” is actually nowhere mentioned on the product page. Smart bargain hunters definitely need reading glasses to avoid landing on their noses. The game note suppresses beeping and buzzing, such as those on expensive Razer keyboards a while ago. On the other hand, photos of the keyboard with full lighting do not always show all LEDs, which indicates a slowly flickering PWM lighting or some other simplification. After all: it's not all bad in the price basement.

On the next page: Saving in practice and conclusion