Cooler Master CK720 65% Gaming Keyboard Review

Cooler Master has long been one of the most reliable makers of high-end keyboards. Actually, in their official blurb they say that their new CK720 is their first foray into enthusiast keyboards... bull...poop, they've been top of their game for about a decade now! Remember the Cooler Master Novatouch "the ultimate typing experience" or the CM Storm Aluminium Gaming Series keyboard that looked like a sci-fi weapon, Or the Masterkeys S, Masterkeys L, and Pro M RGB, the CM Storm Quickfire Ultimate, The slick low-profile SK650, or even just last year, the CK721 Hybrid! ...and the list goes on, and while they may not be as advanced as the new CK720, they were all top of their game in their respective eras. Plus, it seems I've been reviewing Cooler Master keyboards far longer than their marketing team has been writing their blurbs haha. Cooler Master CK720 One thing is for certain though, the Cooler Master CK720 is packing some seriously sweet features, with hot-swappable switches, a removable aluminium faceplate, a new stabiliser design, PBT doubleshot keycaps as standard, a rotary encoder, and much more beyond. The keyboard market, or more precisely, the enthusiast keyboard market, is big business these days, with countless smaller brands delivering unique premium keyboards that cost a small fortune. (I use a JamesDonkey RS2 myself, as I said... lots of unique brands out there). So, can the CK720 hold a light to the current crop of high-end models? Let's find out! Features Hot-Swappable Switches - Upgrade your keeb with the latest and greatest hyped switches without the need for a soldering gun. Whether you're on team Gateron, prefer fancy Alpacas, or you're a hardcore Boba boi, we've got you covered.Kailh Box V2 Switches - See and feel why this hobby's exploded in recent years with new factory-lubed Kaih Box White V2 Switches, known for their smoothness and satisfying sound. Don't be surprised if it becomes the gateway into the world of other switches.Optimised Cooler Master Stabs - The CK720 is the first keyboard to utilize our new and improved stabilizers - optimized for minimal rattle, and pre-lubed for smoother travel. Plus they're in a sexy purple color. After all, in this hobby it's all about A E S T H E T I C S.Silicone Padding - We hate when boards sound hollow or plasticky. That's why the CK720 comes with 2 separate silicone dampening pads: on the PCB and filling in the bottom cover. This not only absorbs the noise of keys, but enhances them so you get that thock and/or clack that's incredibly satisfying for you - but maybe not as pleasing to those around you.Premium Keycaps - If you're copping the CK720 in the US/UK/TC layout, you'll get PBT doubleshot keycaps in your kit. PBT is the more durable cousin to standard ABS keycaps - protected from that unsightly shine from extended use. In addition, doubleshot construction means the legends are free from wearing off.Removable Top Plate - The CK720 is built to last, with a thoughtful design that's equal parts minimalistic and rugged, with an aluminum top plate that is easily removable for customization or easy access for maintenance.Precision Dial - Better known as "rotary encoders" in nerdier circles, a three-way precision dial enables you to adjust volume, cycle through colour modes, and more - all customizable via our MasterPlus+ software.MasterPlus+ Suite Support - Adjust all your settings with our MasterPlus software, a unified control hub where managing all of your Cooler Master gear is easier than ever. Adjust all of your settings from one dashboard, and even sync your lighting settings across multiple devices with ease.No Software Required - When you're in a groove, the last thing you want to do is Alt+Tab out to adjust your keyboard settings. The CK720 combats that with an innovative On-the-fly System. In the heat of battle, easily adjust per-key backlighting, switch lighting modes, and even record macros with just a few keypresses. Get the functionality of software without needing to have software bloating your system - saving you time and precious PC resources.Ergonomics - Adjustable feet improves the ergonomics of the CK720 by letting you control the angle of the keys to reduce wrist strain.Accessories - Coming soon we'll have a braided coiled cable, PBT keycap sets and coloured aluminum top plates for you to customize and truly make the CK720 yours. What Cooler Master Had to Say "The CK720 mechanical keyboard is our first foray into enthusiast keyboards — approachable for everyone without making compromises on quality. It has all the hallmarks of endgame-quality keyboards, including Kailh Box V2 switches for an enthusiast-level typing feel. Plus, they're hot-swappable so you can customize and use all your favourite switches. In addition, this is our first keeb with our new stabilizers, pre-lubed for smoother feedback and minimal rattle. And if that weren't enough, we've also installed silicone padding to get maximum thock (or clack if you prefer). With the CK720, you've found your new everyday endgame." What We Use Processor: Intel Core i7 13700KFGraphics Card: Gainward RTX 4090 24GBMotherboard: Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AXRAM: Kingston Fury Beast 5600Mhz 32GBStorageSeagate FireCuda 530 PCIe Gen 4 2TB M.2 Primary DriveSeagate FireCuda 530 PCIe Gen 4 2TB M.2 Secondary DrivePower Supply: be quiet 800W PlatinumCase: Fractal Design NorthCooling6 x Noctua 140mm ULN Fans1 x Noctua 120mm ULN Fan1 x Noctua NH-D15S CPU CoolerDesk: ThunderX3 ED7 Adjustable Gaming DeskChair: noblechair HERO Java EditionKeyboard: JamesDonkey RS2Mouse: Glorious Model D Minus WirelessHeadset: Audeze LCD-2 Cloased Back ControllersSteam ControllerPlayStation 5 DualSense Xbox One Controller ThrustMaster TCA Sidestick X Airbus Edition With the Intel Core i7 13700KF, Gainward RTX 4090 24GB and Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX powering the heart of this gaming setup, there's virtually no compromise on performance, allowing me to the latest peripherals, games, software, and much more at their absolute best. The Fractal Design North is a lovely PC case, and I've taken its cooling to the next level with seven Noctua ULN fans (Ultra Low Noise), and the iconic king of cooling that is the NH-D15S, meaning I get big airflow throughout the build, but with barely a noise from the system that could compromise any other testing. Thanks to Kingston for some fast DDR5 memory, and the PCIe Gen 4.0 speeds of the Seagate FireCuda 530 PCIe Gen 4 2TB M.2 SSDs, ultra-fast response times and loading mean there are no compromises in our software testing. The ThunderX3 ED7 Adjustable Gaming Desk and noblechair HERO Java Edition make for great productivity, ergonomics and comfort for those long hours working, and longer nights gaming. I practically live at my desk, so the lumbar support and the standing desk option are real game-changers I couldn't live without these days. Thank you to my friends at Cooler Master, Seagate, Noctua, Thunder X3, noblechair, Kingston, Thrustmaster, and Audeze, for their support in putting this setup together. Packaging The CK720 comes in a really nice box, it's a dual-layer cardboard so it's nice and strong to keep everything safe, and there's a lovely photo of the keyboard right on the front too. The coiled keyboard cable is sold separately, but thanks Cooler Master for sending one out to me. It comes in a durable plastic bag that you just rip open. Around the back of the CK720 box, there's a plethora of information, and a split image of the keyboard showing the switch designs, mounting system and much more. On the interior, everything is very well packaged and protected. There's a cable and pulling tool, as well as the usual documentation included too. A Closer Look & Performance This is such a nice keyboard from the moment you take it out of the box, but we'll get to that in a moment. The stock cable is nice enough, a soft rubber-coated Type-C cable, and it's nice and long too, with those custom purple inserts on the header too. ...but it's not quite as fantastic as this double-sleeved coiled cable. It looks neon, it's so vibrant with that blue-over-purple aesthetic, truly a wonder to see in person. It comes with an XLR breakaway in the middle, which screws into the main cable that goes to your computer. Why? Actually, I don't really know, but it looks neat. As you can see, the keyboard looks pretty epic, and the default Cooler Master purple is the stock RGB setting, so it matches up with the cable really nicely too; such a nice attention to detail. Just to be clear, I have something behind the keyboard holding it up, it doesn't stand like this on its own. It's quite a heavy keyboard too, but if you're a long-time fan of Cooler Master keyboards, you'll know they're typically heavier than other brands anyway, and well-known for being somewhat overbuilt. the CK720 is available in a few configurations, with US, UK or TC layouts, all of which come with a set of high-quality PBT doubleshot keycaps, which won't suffer the awful shininess that ABS caps suffer from after extended use. The darker version of the keyboard comes with black keys, while the lighter silver version comes with white keycaps. The CK720 is really robust, and it uses a durable aluminium top plate, which can be removed via a hidden lever on the left side of the keyboard under a little plastic cover. Why? So you can customise it! You could paint it, laser engrave it, or apply vinyl, it's really up to you. For me personally? I'm happy with the luxurious stock finish. The keyboard is 65% so it's pretty minimal on the surface. However, it uses a lot of FN-Shift features (the button left of the the right Ctrl key, to use secondary functions on each of the keys. There's also a dedicated delete, page up and page down key, which is handy. Of course, this layout isn't for everyone, the loss of a numberpad alone can be a deal breaker. However, there are a lot of keyboard lovers out there who just love tiny keyboards, and who am I to argue with what they want? I do love a good dial control though, and there's a gorgeous one here made from aluminium, it has a nice tactile bump when turned and can be clicked in too, allowing you to control and mute your volume, change RGB profiles, adjust brightness levels, skip songs and more. One of the most surprising aspects of this keyboard is how slim it is. It sits pretty low, and it has a nice slim bezel too. It's more surprising based on the weight of the keyboard though, it's as heavy as some robust full-size keyboards. This is due to a thick silicone padding on the PCB and a filled-in bottom plate, as it takes all the hollowness out of the keyboard. That means when you smash your finger down on a key, all you hear is the clickity-clack of that switch. Some keyboards are so hollow typing sounds like you are typing on a steelpan drum. The keyboard is certainly unique looking due to its size, with the arrow keys pushed to the left to slim it down, and obviously, trimmed off the number pad as well as the F-keys to give it that 65% layout. It can take some getting used to, but if you're a gamer, and do little else, you could likely trim down to about 10% of the keys and still be fine anyway. I do like that the keyboard has a secondary level though, so ZXCV has profiles, QWERTYUAS have lighting features, DFGHJ is the macro engine, and then there are F-keys, media keys and more. Every switch is pulling double duty, but also, can be programmed via the software and the on-the-fly macro engine. The underside is pretty blank, just some tiny rubber feet. Normally, big feet are needed to prevent sliding around, but honestly, it's heavy enough that it never became an issue, it stays where you put it. The feet are neat though, with a smaller inner kickstand. As well as a larger outer kickstand, giving you three levels of angle adjustment. The included software is decent enough, but if you brave the Fn-Shift features, of which there are many, it's hardly needed. You can set per-key RGB levels by dialling in the levels here, and even then, select from a plethora of effects, brightness, direction and speed settings. The RGB is nice too, with good colours that aren't overly bright. Many keyboards are overly bright or shine in a way that flashes your eye while working at night. This keyboard is more subdued and toned down, but has enough RGB to make it look clear to read and nice to look at, without the distraction. The switches are pretty fantastic though, they're the Kailh White Box Switch, it's a clicky switch but it doesn't feel like an MX Blue. It's a smoother switch, with a lighter action and a click that's somewhat tonally similar to a nice quality mouse switch. Crispy and smooth at the same time, it's very pleasing to the touch and to the ear. There's a special key cap and switch removal tool included in the box too, so you can easily maintain things or make some changes. The switches are MX compatible with caps, but they have a special box design that stops the caps from having any wobble, leading to a more positive typing experience. The switches aren't soldered in either, they're fully hot-swappable, so you just put the tweezers on each side and give them a light pull. Cooler Master has bundled in 8 x Cherry Green Switches, which are very strong click switches, but honestly, any 3-pin switch will drop in just fine, so go nuts, order yourself a bunch on Amazon, they're pretty cheap to get a few test switches. Overall the typing action is stunning, the Kailh White switches are stunning, and they're all pre-lubricated at the factory meaning they're silky smooth and the click is so clean and pleasing. For gaming, it's an absolute beast of a keyboard, very responsive and it gives you good feedback while you click away. For work, I found myself suddenly aware of how much I use the F-Keys, and while I can cope without a numberpad, I'd likely be pulling my hair by the time I was doing a full day of GPU benchmarking and typing in numbers all day. However, for sheer aesthetic and gaming performance, Cooler Master scores strongly here. How Much Does it Cost? The Cooler Master CK720 65% Gaming Keyboard is available now for just £99.99 at most major retailers, it's on Scan for £94.99 with a small sale right now, and even comes with a free Xclio Invade XXL mat right now too, but for some reason, the price is showing a little higher on Amazon at the moment. That's about £20 cheaper than the Asus ROG Falchion, £70 cheaper than the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini, and £5 less than the HyperX Allow Origins 65. So really, the price is very competitive, and bonus, not all the rivals at hot-swappable either or aluminium so a couple of points to Cooler Master there. Overview There's really no shortage of kick-ass mechanical gaming keyboards, there are countless models from seemingly countless brands. You only have to check Amazon to see brand names like XXTSLK or SLICKMICK or Whogivesabibble, OK I made those up, but they're no less random than the thousands you'll find. However, let's stick to the big names, Razer, Corsair, ASUS, Cooler Master, Ducky, they all have something around this price, so you're not limited to one brand regardless of your budget. All the big brands have a 65% keyboard now too, but as I said above, prices vary wildly, and in the grand scheme of things, Cooler Master is on the more affordable end of high-end keyboard prices right now. In terms of build quality, the CK720 it top-tier stuff, but then again, Cooler Master has a long history and reputation for overbuilding their keyboards, and I'm glad that's still true. You can always tell the Cooler Master blindfolded as it's most often the heaviest of the bunch and for a 65% keyboard, this thing is pretty heavy. It is packed full of silicone pads and more metal so that it doesn't rattle, echo, vibrate or anything really, so when you smash away at those keys, the only feedback you get is from the little switches, and honestly, it feels and sounds so nice as a result. The customisation is not something I suspect many will do, but it's nice to have the option. Being able to hot-swap the switches in a few seconds means that regular folk can have a go at it, rather than the old enthusiast boards that needed a soldering iron. The 8 x Cherry Green switches in the box act as a nice tester for this too, but personally, the Kailh White Box switches are so good, you'll likely want to retain them. I should remind you, there are other switches available pre-installed, so pick what suits you best. Should I Buy One? The Cooler Master CK720 65% Gaming Keyboard is one of the best-made, robust, and stylish 65% keyboards on the market today, which is made even more impressive when you realise it's also one of the most affordable, despite having the pedigree that Cooler Master has continued to bring to their keyboards over many years. For the office, the lack of F-keys and Numberpad can be tiresome, but you do adapt after a while. However, for pure gaming excellence, this one is going to be hard to beat.