MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL Mechanical Keyboard Review

Peter Donnell / 3 years ago

A Closer Look

If you’re a fan of MSI or you keep a close eye on eTeknix, you may actually remember the original version of this keyboard. It likely won’t surprise you to find out there is a KG50 Elite that had standard depth switches, then a GK50 Low-Profile that uses the shorter throw Kailh switches, and now there’s the GK50 TKL which we have today. I actually reviewed the full-size one two years ago! Obviously, the key difference here is that the number pad has been chopped off and the bezel slimmed up a bit to make this a more compact and portable design.

The design is broadly the same though, with those funky keycaps really being something quite different to what we usually see. They’re slimmer caps for a start, sitting much lower and they’re on short actuating switches too, keeping things lower still.

However, what really looks cool is the more angular design on their edges, which really catch the light and shadows rather well.

Personally, I can’t stand having desktop software for all my peripherals. MSI provide one, and it’s suitably a bit crap as most are, but once you configure any profiles and lighting you desire, you can ditch it pretty quickly. This is especially true thanks to the extensive range of onboard features that you can use with the simple Fn-Shift function.

There’s a set of multimedia controls here.

And more here for the volume, and they’re always welcome on a keyboard I use!

The RGB gets a lot of control too, with six buttons here controlling the profile/preset, reaction speed, and even the effect direction. There are a LOT of profiles too, and I doubt you’ll need to make a custom one as there should be something here for you.

There are more controls here, allowing you to adjust the colour and brightness of each profile and key also. Overall, getting it set up is never more than a few key presses away, which I really appreciate more than using the desktop software.

The Fn-Shift key is here, with a nice MSI dragon logo on it.

There are some additional caps included in the box too. The CTRL and ALT keys are flat profiled by default, but there are some convex topped ones should you wish to swap them. Honestly, they both feel alright to me, but perhaps you’ll have a more defined opinion on which is better and why.

A lovely MSI dragon tucked above the arrow keys.

I quite like the LED indicator placement too, it’s using the available space and reduces the need for more trim at the back of the keyboard.

The whole top panel is a single piece of aluminium, which looks awesome, and it feels good to the touch too. It’s folded at the front and back, giving the whole thing added strength and style.

The underside is plastic, but it feels nice and durable and even looks pretty stylish too with that huge MSI logo stamped into it.

The feet are nice and robust too. Flat, the keyboard sits at 5 degrees, and there are stiff rubber grips here too to prevent it sliding around.

The first inner foot raises the angle a little.

Or you can go full tilt and use the larger feet.

Finally, the cable recesses neatly into a port hidden under the keyboard, so only the cable hangs out the back not the bulk of the connector.

Performance

One of the really defining features of this keyboard has to be the keycap design. They’re wider and flatter than most keyboards. Plus, from front to back, the keyboard has only the slightest curve. This can feel a bit strange at first, and some people who rely on the feel of the space between the caps to index their fingers may find it takes a little adjustment, as there’s not much shape to the layout. Personally, I like that, it’s a nice fast layout for touch typing and gaming, but I have been typing on a low-profile and low actuation keyboard for a few years now.

Also MSI has made the strange decision to only release this keyboard with one type of switch. While I like the Kailh White Low Profile they’re not going to be to everyone. They’re a clicky switch, which has both a pleasant audible click and a nice tactile feel. However, it’s unlike what you may be used to from something like a Cherry MX Blue. It’s a lighter “click” and almost feels like a fancy on/off switch you’d find on the dashboard of a fancy car where a lot of thought has gone into the sound and feel of that switch. It most importantly doesn’t quite feel like any other keyboard switch to me.

That feel, combined with the low actuation force and short travel of the switches feels very strange to me. I do like it though, but it takes a day or two to adjust to. Compared to my usual linear low profile switches, I do have to type just a little harder on the GK50 TKL. However, if you’re coming from full-size mechanical switches, you’ll likely find you’re moving your fingers more and harder than this keyboard requires, until you get used to it at least.

Of course, the noise isn’t going to appeal to everyone either. Doing a Vet Trial in Elder Scrolls Online sounded like a (relatively quiet) tap-dancing centipede to everyone in the room other than myself. But from my perspective, the feedback makes for confident keypresses while working and gaming.