MSI GK-701 RGB Mechanical Keyboard Announced

MSI has an update for their existing GK-701 mechanical gaming keyboard in the form of the GK-701 RGB. In case you did not get the hint from the name, the new GK-701 RGB features a full RGB LED backlight. With over 16.7 million colors to choose from, it is a lot more colorful than the red-only GK-701 original. The keyboard’s RGB LED backlighting is also controllable via MSI Mystic Light RGB software.

MSI GK-701 RGB Features

This new gaming keyboard uses the fastest Cherry MX switch currently available: The Cherry MX Speed Silver. This mechanical switch boasts a 1.2mm travel for activation vs the Cherry MX red which has 2mm. However, they both share the same actuation force requirement of 45g. Each Cherry MX Speed Silver switch has a lifespan of 50 million keystrokes so it also lasts a long time. It also uses a standard Cherry MX cross mount for keycap compatibility.

The GK-701 RGB retains the standard 104-key ANSI layout of the original GK-701. It has a 1.25x modifier bottom row, so users can easily customize the keycaps with their own preference. The default keycap has an anti-slip coating and has laser-etch legends for light to show through.

Pricing and Availability

The price and availability information is unknown at this time. Other solutions with an RGB LED using Cherry MX Speed Silver switches such as the Corsair Gaming K70 RGB retail for $169 USD.