ThunderX3 TK25 Membrane Gaming Keyboard Review

As popular as mechanical keyboards are, there are still plenty of people out there who are content with membrane-style alternatives. Today, we are taking a look at the ThunderX3 TK25 gaming keyboard, featuring rubber dome switches, but adding some extra features like dedicated macro keys. Is it worth the £30 cost? Let's find out. ThunderX3 doubles as the gaming-focussed side of Aerocool, so there is a lot of industry experience behind the scenes here. The TK25 is one of the lower-end models on offer in ThunderX3's TK range, trading in mechanical switches for membrane ones but keeping a few gaming-specific features. Features and Specifications: Membrane switches. 26 anti-ghosting keys. Full key backlighting. 3 backlight colours, five modes. Plastic construction. 5 G-keys for macros. Gold-plated USB Plug. 1.6m Braided USB cable. Dimensions: 230(D) x 480(W) x 34(H) mm Weight: 1.45kg ±10g As you can see in the images above, the ThunderX3 TK25 comes in a very slim, compact box with key features proudly listed and displayed on the front and back. Inside the box, you will find the keyboard itself. In terms of style, this board actually reminds me of Logitech's G910 and G410, both of which I have reviewed previously. However, there are some differences, like the lights on the side and the black and grey colour scheme. The space bar is also a lot bigger compared to most other keyboards. You may notice some marks along the non-removable wrist rest of the keyboard. These pictures were taken before the keyboard had been used, so it seems that the finish used on this keyboard can be susceptible to smudge marks during regular handling. The keyboard itself is quite light and the build quality itself feels a tad cheap, with quite a bit of flex in the plastic. The plastic does also creak often when pressure is applied. That said, it should be durable enough to survive regular use. Since this is a full-sized keyboard, there is a number pad on the end. Unfortunately, the TK25 does lack any additional USB passthrough ports along the back of the keyboard. This is far from a deal breaker, as these days it seems many keyboard makers no longer include extra USB ports on their keyboards. However, it is a feature I personally quite like to see. On the left-hand side of the board you will find a row of five G-keys. These are fully configurable, so you can assign shortcuts and macros to help in games. You can also have three different profiles locked and loaded, with the ability to quickly switch between them thanks to the three profile switch buttons along the top of the keyboard. You can also use the record key to quickly set up some simple macros without needing to head into the software. Aside from profile switching, these keys also offer a range of other shortcuts, including quick buttons for opening 'My Computer', emails, and also easy access to volume controls. In the week leading up to this review, the ThunderX3 TK25 has been my main keyboard, which I have used extensively not just for work, but also for my evening gaming sessions. Since this keyboard is said to come with plenty of customisable features, I will be kicking off the testing phase of this review by taking a look at the accompanying software. Upon first launching the ThunderX3 software, you will be greeted with the above window. From here, you can switch profiles or click on individual keys to set a new function, whether it be a macro, media control or a program function like minimising a window, or copying some text. The Macro button will take you to a macro recording screen, where you can see a list of recorded actions and any action delays set in milliseconds. Alternitavely, you can hit the record button at the top of the keyboard, just above the row of G-Keys for quick access to setting up simple macros. Lighting is not actually controlled through the software, instead there is a lighting toggle button above the numpad on the right-hand side of the keyboard. This will let you switch between red, blue and purple lighting. The backlight is basic but functional. Some of the keys are unevenly lit but the light is good enough that you should be able to see everything just fine while playing in the dark. That said, I would have liked to have seen some form of control within the software itself. That way we could have set up different colours for different profiles. ThunderX3's software isn't the most ambitious but it gets the job done perfectly fine. The basic layout has the added bonus of being easy to navigate but you aren't exactly going to be blown away by the set of features. Then again, this is what I would consider to be an entry-level gaming keyboard, so it makes sense that it doesn't have quite the same level of customisability as higher-end keyboards. With that out of the way, let's talk about what it is like to use this keyboard on a daily basis. If you have used a membrane keyboard before, then you will already know what these switches feel like. That said, this is a review, so I am going to describe it anyway. As is the case most of the time with a membrane keyboard, the switches do feel mushy while typing. You can also tell the difference in the amount of force required for each key press when coming from a mechanical keyboard. These keys are definitely a lot tougher to press down compared to something like a Cherry MX Blue switch. That said, typing is incredibly quiet on this keyboard compared to a mechanical, so you aren't going to get any noise complaints while typing or mashing buttons while gaming. If you currently use membrane switches and are happy with them, then that won't change here. However, one thing that may sway your opinion could be the keycaps. The TK25 uses mid-profile key caps, they aren't as low-profile as chicklet keys like you will find on a laptop, but they aren't as tall as standard sized keycaps. I personally do not mind the lower profile and technically from a gaming perspective, this should make key actuation slightly quicker, though the difference will be very minimal. You aren't suddenly going to have a major competitive edge in Dota 2 or League of Legends. These key caps also come with a rough finish on the plastic. I personally prefer my keycaps to be smooth, like on most other keyboards. However, this is a minor gripe and not one that seriously affected functionality in any way. As far as gaming goes, the ThunderX3 TK25 does the job, as I said earlier, you aren't suddenly going to have a competitive edge but the macro keys can be useful in MMOs and while membrane switches aren't great, they shouldn't hinder you in anyway. The ThunderX3 TK25 is a basic, entry-level gaming keyboard. It has the typical 'gamer' style aesthetically and it does boast a decent amount of key customisation. However, these are things that we would expect from a keyboard aiming itself at gamers in the first place. If you have used a standard, membrane keyboard before, then you know what to expect here. I am in a position where I have used many mechanical keyboards over the last few years, so switching back to membrane was difficult for me personally. Keys are harder to press and things definitely feel mushier while typing. However, I can appreciate the fact that some people genuinely do prefer membrane keyboards and for those people, this keyboard should deliver perfectly fine. I will also admit that membrane switches are much, much quiter than any mechanical keyboard I have tried, so if noise is a concern, this would be the way to go. There are some areas that things could be improved though. For starters, some lighting controls within the software itself would be a nice touch. That way, you could set up a different colour for each profile. This would also act as an easy way to tell which profile you are currently using. I would have also preferred a smooth plastic finish on the key caps, rather than a rough texture. However, that is a personal nitpick, others may feel differently. This is a solid entry-level gaming keyboard but it also needs a solid entry-level price to match. The ThunderX3 TK25 can be found for £29.99 on Box.co.uk. At this price, it is worth considering if you are in the market for an entry-level gaming keyboard, though I would be hesitant to go over that price tag. Discuss on our Facebook page HERE. Pros: Typing is very quiet. Decent level of customisation. Cons: Build feels cheap. KitGuru Says: If you are looking for an entry-level gaming keyboard, then the ThunderX3 TK25 packs enough features to be worth considering over the competition.

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ThunderX3 TK25 Membrane Gaming Keyboard Review

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