CM Storm NovaTouch TKL Topre Switch Keyboard Review

Final Thoughts

Price

The Cooler Master NovaTouch TKL really is the play thing of the enthusiast. The £149.99 price tag sets it out of the range of your average consumer, as you’ve got to take your keyboards pretty seriously to make that kind of investment. It’s especially expensive given the rather limited feature set, even more so when compared with the range of Cherry equipped mechanical keyboards that are around the same price; often packed full of extra features.

Overview

Cooler Master have gone all out to make on the best typing experiences available on the market and it’s certainly paid off. Typing on the NovaTouch really is unlike any other keyboard I’ve ever used. It feels quick and responsive enough for competitive gaming, whilst also being simple and professional in terms of design. This makes it a perfect choice for those who spend all day typing news and reviews, then gaming on an evening; that’ll be me then.

The big downside is of course the price. It’s a very expensive keyboard, which feels like a bad deal given that you’ve got no software configuration for macros, no dedicated macro keys, no dedicated multimedia keys, no backlighting features and it’s not even a full size keyboard. So what exactly are you spending all this money on? In the box you’ve got a set of O-Ring mods and a key-cap puller, which add about £10 worth of extra value, but on the surface you’re getting a pretty basic looking keyboard. I’ll tell you what you’re getting, you’re getting a very simple keyboard done incredibly well.

The build quality on the keyboard, the key caps and of course the switches is as good as they come. I feel this keyboard will still be running as smooth in 50 years time as it is today. There may be a no fuss approach to the exterior, but the performance of the swithces speak for themselves, and they’re something that need to be lived with for a day or two to fully appreciate; which puts Cooler Master in a difficult position. The high price isn’t exactly inviting for those who just want to take a chance on something different.

What is good news is that Cooler Master have pushed out a great product at a price that is as competitive as it can be. The new switches aren’t exactly a mass market product yet and it’ll take some time and development over the next few years until they come down in price; just like they did for Cherry MX equipped keyboards. If you want a great keyboard like the NovaTouch, that really stands out from the crowd in terms of performance, then you’re just going to have to make the investment.

It may not have a lot of features, but it’s a very versatile keyboard. It’ll look just as at home on your work desk as it would as part of a high-end gaming setup. Its TKL (Ten Keys Less) form factor also means it’s a great choice for gamers as it frees up a lot of desk space for your mouse, while also being compact enough to put in a backpack for transport to LAN gaming events.

One thing I do know for certain, we’re going to be seeing a lot more Topre switch keyboards over the next few years and I for one welcome them with open arms. I love my MX Black keys, but the NovaTouch Topre switches are in a league of their own.

“It’s certainly not cheap and it doesn’t pack a lot of features, but the NovaTouch TKL is still one of the best keyboards I’ve ever used. You don’t need flashy lights and gimmicky features to make a great gaming keyboard, especially when you’ve got some of the finest switches ever made, combined with tidy aesthetics and reliable build quality.”

Thank you Cooler Master for providing us with this sample.