IOGEAR Kaliber Gaming HVER Stealth Keyboard Review

How Much Does it Cost?

The Kaliber Gaming HVER STEALTH Gaming Keyboard has an MSRP of just $49.99, albeit due to the unique way import costs and taxes work, it’s broadly about £50 here in the UK too. While IOGear products are stocked at a few online retailers, they’re often found in high street stores too, so it’s best to shop around for the best deal.

Overview

IOGear isn’t the biggest name in the high-end gaming market, but that’s not to say they don’t have a solid reputation. They’ve got some really great products that span more ranges than you might realise, and with over 20 years in the market, they’ve certainly had time to build a solid fanbase too. Just check out their site, they really do make more than you think. It’s no surprise then that they know how to make a competitive keyboard at such a great price.

The quality of this keyboard is decent enough. It feels lighter than the more expensive keyboards out there, but that’s because there’s a bit less metal on the interior. Materials cost money, they put fewer of them in, the price comes down; it makes sense. However, it’s got good quality materials where it matters. The keycaps are double shot, the switches are mechanical, the top plate is aluminium, and even the feet are nice and robust. They may need to dial back the indicator light brightness though, they’re hilariously bright, but since I won’t be putting my eye over them all the time, I can live with that.

While the mechanical switches aren’t Cherry, I think it’s fair to say Cherry has lost their dominance over the market these days. There are so many quality copies on the market these days, and frankly, I’ve tested hundreds of keyboards and these newer ones feel as good as any of them. Actually, thanks to the boxed switch design, they’re a little better than most, as the keycap wobble is reduced, making the typing action feel just a little smoother.

It’s reasonably well equipped too, and while there is a software suite that is worth checking out, if only to customise your lighting or macros, most of the daily functions are available via hotkey shortcuts. You can cycle all the lighting effects, and change the effect direction, speed, colour and more easily enough. Plus, having multimedia controls on the keyboard is welcome, as I’m always running Plexamp while I work and game, so it means I don’t have to tab out to skip through the songs.

Should I Buy One?

There’s no shortage of cheap keyboards on the market today. However, at this price range, a look through Amazon presents you will a wave of brands I’ve never heard of… and given I do this for a living, that’s saying something. IOGear has a very competitive keyboard here. It looks good, it performs great, and the price is seriously good value for money. They’ve got a solid reputation behind them, and it’s a great entry point for those wanting a new mechanical keyboard with very competitive RGB lighting.