Mechanical keyboards are all the rage in the gaming community – and rightfully so. Unlike their membraned cousins, mechanical keyboards are more responsive and offer increased tactile feedback to help improve your gaming sessions. However, prices for mechanical keyboards often start at well over $100, making them prohibitively expensive for large portions of the PC playerbase. Aukey understands this frustration, and its entry-level KM-G12 is an affordable choice for people looking to dip their toes into the mechanical world. It’s not perfect, but for just $64.99 you’d be hard-pressed to find a better product.
Elegant On A Budget
Aukey’s budget keyboard isn’t lacking in the design department. Featuring a steel body, customizable RGB lighting, and double-shot-molded ABS keycaps, it feels like a much more expensive product. The flashing lights can quickly be turned on and off by pressing a few different keys, and they are fully customizable using the G-Aim software. Not only are there lights underneath the keycaps, but there’s also a lightbar that runs around the base of the board, giving it wonderful look that complements other Aukey electronics – such as its latest gaming mouse.
The product sent for testing came with Aukey Blue switches, which provided a tactile click and were very audible during gameplay or typing. This budget board also includes 104-key rollover, meaning you won’t have to worry about keystrokes not registering during the heat of battle. It’s safe to say that Aukey didn’t pull any punches when designing the KM-G12.
Great For Gaming, Loud For Everything Else
The keyboard was extensively tested across various games, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Guild Wars 2, Fall Guys, and The Outer Worlds. It was also used during daily computer use — after all, most people don’t want to have one keyboard for gaming and a separate one for working or studying.
While gaming, the KM-G12 couldn’t have performed much better. It was responsive, the blue switches were just as tactile as advertised, and the keycaps were easily removable using the included keycap puller. The caps can be switched out with a variety of others, and Aukey even offers its own Fortnite-themed keys. Compared to a regular membrane keyboard, the difference while gaming was readily apparent and seemed much more responsive than the squishy keys you’ve probably been typing on for years. And that’s exactly who this keyboard is aimed at — people who have used membrane boards their entire life and are looking for an affordable, entry level mechanical.
Speaking of typing, Aukey’s product is also a decent keyboard for daily use. I typically prefer switches with a bit less feedback while typing, as I find it easier to achieve a higher WPM on keys with a softer touch. Every keystroke is also incredibly noisy, making it less than ideal for a shared office or dorm. However, if you have your own gaming room or office, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Verdict
Aukey’s budget KM-G12 is the perfect fit for someone new to the world of mechanical keyboards. It’s a bit noisy for use in a shared space and lacks a few customization options when compared to more expensive alternatives, but minor qualms aside it’s a great value for its price. It’s well-built, includes a variety of built-in RGB patterns, and can handle every game you throw at it. Anyone in the market for a budget mechanical keyboard can stop searching — the KM-G12 is a perfect fit. Other boards might offer slightly faster actuation times or better customization options, but as your first dip into the wonderful world of mechanical keyboards, it’s hard to find something better than this.
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