ASUS TUF Gaming K7 IP56 Gaming Keyboard Review

ASUS TUF Gaming K7 We get a lot of impressive mechanical keyboards through the eTeknix office. However, short of a few macro buttons and some slightly different RGB, they're all pretty much the same. Take the ASUS RoG STRIX Scope RGB we reviewed last week, it's phenomenal, but it's not exactly innovative either. However, the ASUS TUF Gaming K7 is different, very different in fact, and that's got me seriously hyped to test it out! Features Operating at the speed of light...ish, thanks to the new optical-mechanical switches, which are said to have an actuation that's 25x faster than mechanical switches. Now, I don't know if I'll be able to tell, but we shall see. Then we've got full IP56 dust and water resistance, foam padding wrist rest, RGB lighting, and on-the-fly controls. Overall, that's pretty well equipped, but it's those switches that have me the most excited. Engineered with innovative optical-mechanical switches for precise actuation that’s 25X faster than a standard mechanical keyboard, and supplied with both tactile and linear switchesIP56 resistance to dust and water ingress, aircraft-grade aluminium faceplate and up to twice the lifespan of traditional mechanical switches for long-term reliabilityBroad, deep memory-foam pad for comfortable, and integrated magnets for fast attachment or removal.Individually-backlit keys with Aura Sync RGB LED technology for unlimited personalization optionsMap macros on-the-fly to our fully programmable keys, adjust settings with enhanced Armoury II software, and store profiles on the keyboard’s onboard memory What ASUS Had to Say "Battlefield domination beckons with the light-speed actuation of TUF Gaming K7's Optical-Mech switches. Choose linear or tactile to match your play style, and exploit the compact design to stay in command. K7 is water and dust resistant, topped with aircraft-grade aluminium, comes with a detachable wrist rest, and has per-key Aura Sync illumination – for a fast and fun way to light up your gaming world." - ASUS TUF Optical-Mech Switches "Each TUF Optical-Mech switch casts a beam of infrared light. Pressing a key causes the shaft to break the beam for near-instant actuation. This unique design eliminates the 5ms debounce delay intrinsic to traditional metal contacts, slashing total actuation time to just 0.2ms – so it's quicker than the blink of an eye!" Packaging and Accessories The box is fairly understated, with a dark image of the keyboard on the front showing off some of the RGB lighting. However, it's all mostly black and darkly coloured. We can see a small badge in the corner for AURA Sync, and there's a neat cutaway so you can try some of the switches out too. Around the back, there's plenty of technical information too, as well as another big photo of the keyboard. The main selling points are obviously the new Optical-Mech switches, as well as the IP56 rating. This keyboard is designed to be TOUGH, hence the TUF branding, so they claim it uses "aircraft-grade aluminium" as well as being able to "withstand 100 million keystrokes." All sounds pretty great to me, so let's get cracking! A Closer Look The keyboard is very nicely designed, with a rather dark and industrial look about it. This comes from the use of dark black keycaps, as well as that muted finish on the aluminium top panel. This also makes it feel robust too, the whole thing has a nice weight to it and is very rigid. You can pick it up from one end, and there's no flex to it at all. The keycaps themselves are nicely designed and come with a large font and smooth coating that makes them feel quite pleasing to the touch. There are a few extra features tucked in though, which is nice, as there are no extra macro keys or standalone multimedia controls. Here you can see the 1, 2, 3, and 4 buttons have some profile toggles, which you can access with the Fn-Shift function. Windows Lock There's a Windows Key Lock mode too, which is always handy while you're gaming. Nothing worse than being in the middle of a battle, only to hit that and be left staring at your desktop wallpaper. If you like to listen to a lot of music while you're working and gaming, you'll find some basic multimedia controls up top too. For me, these are great as I can skip through songs on Plex without tabbing out of my game or taking my hands off of the keyboard. Volume Control The same goes for volume controls, giving you access to a mute and master volume levels on the F9, F10 and F11 keys. It's nothing crazy, but a few basic features like this certainly enhance the user experience. For RGB lovers, you'll find the keyboard comes with full AURA Sync support. This means you can pair up the lighting with all your other ASUS products from mice to motherboards. Furthermore, it means you have per-key lighting customisation. However, if you just want a quick fix, you can toggle modes and brightness here for the built-in effects such as reaction, fade, rainbow, etc. The indicator LEDs are located here also, rather than in the top right of the keyboard. There are extra lights for things like Windows Lock too. TUF GAMING There's not a lot of branding on show either, which is nice. Although, I do like that "WE GOT YOUR BACK!" slogan on the top right. The keyboard is quite slim and even with the kickstands deployed, I think it sits quite low. This is a good thing though, as a high keyboard is going to be murder on your wrists. Of course, this one comes with a wrist rest too, but we'll get to that in a moment. Typing Angle The chassis of the keyboard is plastic, but it's very hard wearing and nicely designed. You can clearly see that mounted aluminium top plate that gives the keyboard its premium look and feel. On the underside, there are durable grip in each corner, which helps keep the keyboard firmly planted on your desk. Even when you deploy those kickstands, they have their own rubber grips on them so you don't lose too much traction. In typical ASUS style though, even the underside of the keyboard is style and patterned. Performance The main focus for this keyboard has to be these rather interesting switches. They're Optical-Mechanical switches that still feel like a mechanical, but use an optical trigger rather than an electrical contact. The model we have are the clicky ones, and they feel like a lighter version of MX Blue and have an actuation of just 1.5mm, rather than the 2mm of most MX switches. If you've used MX Speed/Silver switches, imagine a clicky Cherry Blue version of those. Honestly, they feel fantastic, their response is sharp and pleasantly tactile. However, they're bloody loud. The "click" sounds a little harsher on the high-end vs the more mechanical "THUNK" you get from the Cherry switches. I like the noise, but those around you may think otherwise. Wrist Rest The keyboard does look and feel fantastic though. The magnetically attaching wrist rest really helps complete the look and further enhances the typing experience. I can't work or game without one these days, albeit because I used a PC for so long without one that my hands are completely ruined in my mid 30's; Take note of that one kids! Like a few of their rivals flagship keyboards, this one is padded, which is awesome. Nothing wrong with a solid rest either, but this is very comfortable on the old hand bones. It promises a good hand position overall, and that's a great thing for both working and gaming on this keyboard. RGB, Because Why Not! ASUS have their fantastic AURA Sync software to fall back on which pairs up with all your other ASUS hardware and many other brands actually. From there, you can customise the effects and colours of this keyboard to match everything else. It's a deep rabbit hole that I've never cared for. However, there are plenty of built-in effects on the keyboard, and you can tweak those on-the-fly from the keyboard, which is brilliant. What does impress me is just how bright the keyboard actually is. The rest of the keyboard is quite dark and muted, so it's quite the contrast with 100% RGB lighting on the go. The aluminium top plate is quite dull and lightly textured, albeit by design. This does help diffuse the under-lighting, and gives it a really warm glow under the keys that looks properly stunning. The reaction effects aren't to my taste, but you can dial in any colour, fades, rainbows and all that using the FN Shift and arrow keys. Nice and easy, and you can just as easily turn the lights off too. Gaming... Maybe Some Work Too This doesn't leap out as a gaming keyboard to me, but it's quite a sleeper in that regard. It looks grown up, at least when the RGB isn't flashing away. You could stick this into an office and no one would look twice at it really. However, those short travel switches with their ultra-fast actuation are going to be a hit with gamers. They feel extremely snappy and fast to type on, and don't need as much force to use either. It just feels more dialled in and responsive... because it is. Working The same is true for working on this keyboard. I mean, I'm using it right now and it's by far one of the easiest keyboards to type on I've used in a long time. Just a shame it's so damn loud, I may be tempted to ask ASUS for the non-clicky model and compare, as not everyone has the ear tolerance for clicky keyboards. My SO, for example, is finding this way more distracting that I am. But I digress, as the typing action is sublime, and it's a joy on the fingertips. ...Back to Gaming Overall, ASUS has built a really competent keyboard here. With great switches, stylish and durable build quality, and waterproofing, it's sure to outlast even the most brutal all night and day gaming marathons. How Much Does it Cost? A premium keyboard like this doesn't come cheap, so I'm not shocked by the £140/$150 price tag. If anything, it's pretty competitive when it comes to the high-end of the keyboard market. However, most of their competitors don't have custom 100m keystroke optical switches or and IP56 rating, so the TUF K7 certainly has the edge there. Overview ASUS already have a very competitive grasp on the keyboard market. The ASUS RoG STRIX Scope RGB Mechanical Keyboard we reviewed just a week ago is one of the best examples of this. It's a fantastic looking gaming keyboard that should appeal to many, even at £150. However, the TUF Gaming K7 is a bit more off the beaten track than that and is there for someone who wants a bit of a change, and that's great! Optical Switches There's really nothing on the market quite like them, and I'm guessing that's why there's a hole in the box. If you see this in a retail store you can try out the switches yourself, and I suggest you do. I do think they're a bit loud, but I know some people love that and don't care about the noise and even prefer the louder switch. I do think they're somewhere between an MX Speed due to their shorter travel, and an MX Blue due to their clicky clack. If that's your idea of awesome, you're in for a treat. Then again, I'm also very eager to try the linear variant of this keyboard, I think it could be even better. Understated Ish... This keyboard looks dark and menacing with the black trim and soft finished aluminium top panel. You could drop it in the office and it'll look fantastic. Turn on the RGB to full rainbow, however, and it can be as flamboyant as your heart desires. That being said, the addition of the wrist rest, IP56 rating, and the overall build quality make it well suited to a wide range of gaming and work environments, which I'm sure will add to the overall appeal. Should I Buy One? If innovation and unique performance is your groove, then the K7 certainly ticks both boxes. It's a competent work and gaming keyboard with a few extra features that make it stand out from the usual keyboard crowd. For that alone, I think it's a brilliant breath of fresh air, and highly recommend you try one out should you get the chance. 4K Video Review ASUS TUF Gaming K7 Optical-Mech IP56 Gaming Keyboard Review