ThunderX3 TK25 Membrane Gaming Keyboard Review

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.

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