Tecware Phantom TKL Mechanical Keyboard Review

Performance

The key Tecware Phantom does come with downloadable software that allows for full per-key lighting customisation. However, even if you’re too lazy or just not interesting in that, there’s a lot of built-in features too. Using the controls on the keyboard, you can cycle through lighting effects pretty much instantly. As you can see above, there’s no shortage of options. Plus, you can adjust speed, brightness and even turn them off if you want. Not bad for a keyboard that’s noticeably more affordable than the big-name rivals.

The lights are really colourful and vibrant too, albeit, it’s pretty sunny in here today, but I still think they shine out really well. Obviously, they’ll be more impactful and useful in a dark room.

What I do love are the switches though. Sure, they’re not Cherry switches and so what, many keyboards out there don’t use Cherry these days, even from the big name brands. These feel just as you would expect for a red switch if I’m honest, if I didn’t look, I wouldn’t have noticed.

For work and gaming, well it’s pretty much as I would have expected. The keys are light and fast to use, making it really enjoyable to use. While the software is competent and great for setting stuff up, it’s not needed either, which I really like. You can dial in the lights, volume, macros and all that right on the keyboard, saving from taskbar app clutter.

For gaming, it’s really well planted too. It might be a small keyboard, but it has a good weight and huge rubber grips on the base. That means that while you’re thrashing at the keys, the keyboard stays firmly in place, which is great. Yet despite the rugged performance, it’s still compact enough to pick up, chuck it in your backpack and take it to your next LAN party.