MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL Keyboard Review – flat switches with a special sound

1 - Introduction and technical data 2 - Optics and Haptics 3 - Functionality, typing feel and sound check 4 - Software and Conclusion

Functionality and typing feel

The switches are Choc Low Profile from Kailh, here in the white characteristic. These were actually designed before notebooks, but also do quite well on a desktop keyboard. Below are the specifications compared to an MX Cherry Red:

More details can also be found on the product page for the Switch at the manufacturer. The release point is indeed very audible, more on that in a moment. For me, this was the first encounter with low-profile mechanical switches. After a short acclimation period, smooth typing was well possible. The “problem” for me was not getting every key to buttom out all the time, because you expected even more travel to the end of the keyboard.

Keycap

Switch

Otherwise, the typing feel – unsurprisingly – compares quite well with a laptop keyboard. I was again sent a QWERTY / US layout for the pre-release test, but a German QWERTZ layout is now also available until the release.

Windows recognizes the keyboard as German for me despite the different labeling, which requires some rethinking. Due to the low height, the lack of a palm rest didn’t bother me as much as I thought, but I still would have preferred to have one.

Soundcheck

And now for the promised audio sample, the low-profile keys really have a very unique sound when writing. It made me think a little of typewriters, but without the characteristic snap-back of the type lever. But listen for yourself:

Normal writing:

5x Space, 5x Enter and 5x Backspace:

Escape pressed slowly: