Gamakay LK75 Review: Silent Typing and Photoshop Keycaps

2 weeks ago

Who wouldn't want a group of these keycaps?

gamakay lk75 keyboard full position apical down

Key Takeaways

The Gamakay LK75 mechanical keyboard stands retired pinch its unsocial Adobe Photoshop-inspired keycaps, programmable TFT-screen knob, and quiet Phoenix switches, providing a quieter typing experience.
The keyboard's build value is decent, and it offers awesome RGB lighting effects. However, nan desktop customization package could usage immoderate improvement.
With aggregate connectivity modes and a 5,000mAh battery, nan Gamakay LK75 is simply a versatile keyboard suitable for some typing and gaming, providing a sleek creation and vibrant RGB lighting.

Sometimes, pinch mechanical keyboards, it feels for illustration you've seen it all. But nan Gamakay LK75 changes that and delivers a great-looking mechanical keyboard, predominantly by measurement of its awesome Adobe-inspired keycap set, programmable TFT-screen knob, and immoderate silent-if-squishy switches.

The build value of nan Gamakay LK75 is decent, and nan 75% keyboard is well-proportioned, pinch capable abstraction betwixt nan keys that it doesn't consciousness cluttered aliases confined. It has a bully array of RGB lighting effects, and while nan desktop customization package needs immoderate development, nan Gamakay LK75 is simply a tidy wide package that I've enjoyed typing and gaming on.

Image Credit: Gavin Phillips/MakeUseOf

Gamakay LK75

The Gamakay LK75 mechanical keyboard offers a unsocial creation pinch its Adobe Photoshop-inspired keycaps, programmable TFT-screen knob, and Gamakay Phoenix switches that guarantee a quieter typing experience. This 75% keyboard boasts a sleek build and showcases awesome RGB lighting effects, though its desktop customization package could use from improvements. The LK75 besides features aggregate connectivity modes: wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless. Its 5,000mAh artillery offers decent life, particularly pinch nan RGB turned off.

Form factor 75%

Switch options Gamakay Phoenix, Pegasus, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars

Colorways White

Backlight RGB

Dampening Multiple silicone layers, pre-lubed stabilizers

Keycaps MDA floor plan PBT

Hot-swappable Yes

Battery capacity 5,000mAh

Connectivity 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth 5.1, wired

Software customizability Yes

Dimensions 345 x 140 x 25 mm

Weight 1.18kg

Number of Keys 83

Brand Gamakay

Num Pad No

Pros

Excellent, unsocial keycap design
Smooth, quiet typing experience
Programmable media power knob
Good artillery life
Wide scope of switches, hot-swappable

Cons

Programmable knob not each that useful
Phoenix switches very soft

Style and Construction

The Gamakay LK75 is simply a 75% mechanical keyboard pinch 83 keys, measuring 345 x 140 x 25 mm (rising to 30mm astatine nan rear). Weighing 1.18kg, nan Gamakay is simply a predominantly molded integrative build, which fits nan retro-ish vibe nan LK75 gives off.

Internally, aggregate layers of silicone thief trim typing sound and cushion nan switches and wide effect of your keystrokes. In operation pinch nan Gamakay Phoenix switches, this is perfectly 1 of nan quietest mechanical keyboards I've used. We'll talk much astir nan Phoenix linear switches successful a infinitesimal (and location is an LK75 audio typing example), but nan building of nan LK75, on pinch its pre-lubed stabilizers and aggregate silicone layers, really reduces nan typing sound to a minimum. Of course, location is ever immoderate typing sound, but moreover nan infamous abstraction barroom sound is drastically reduced.

Stylistically, Gamakay is onto a victor here. The PBT MDA floor plan keycaps are printed pinch a big of different symbols and icons, each relating to Adobe Photoshop. As a non-Photoshop user, these are of small usage to me, but I'm assured they lucifer Photoshop's shortcuts, and anyway, they look awesome. The printing value connected these keycaps is precocious value and doesn't look for illustration it will scrub disconnected easily, and it makes for a unsocial keycap group that you won't find elsewhere. I'd beryllium amazed if Gamakay didn't commencement offering this group arsenic a standalone bargain because I'm judge it would person galore takers.

gamakay lk75 keyboard abstraction barroom adjacent view

But connected that, location is zero mention of nan Adobe Photoshop-inspired keycaps successful nan box. The "Photoshop Preset Functional Keypads" (to springiness them their due name) are mentioned connected nan website, but surely a small motion successful nan keyboard manual would beryllium useful.

Either way, these are great, and I emotion them.

In nan top-right of nan Gamakay LK75 is simply a programmable media power knob pinch a TFT LCD screen, which you tin usage to straight power volume, alteration RGB settings, brightness, and more. Or, for illustration me, you tin show nan MakeUseOf logo successful its afloat glory.

Image Credit: Gavin Phillips/MakeUseOf

I'm not judge astir nan circumstantial solution of this mini TFT screen, but nan MUO logo looks decent enough. At different times, you tin effort to count nan individual pixels present. Still, arsenic a speedy heads-up connected nan existent clip of time and nan remaining artillery life of nan LK75, it's useful enough.

Connectivity and Battery Life

You'll beryllium pleased to cognize nan Gamakay LK75 has 3 relationship modes: wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4GHz wireless.

The inclusion of a 2.4Ghz USB dongle is simply a awesome addition, pinch nan dongle nestled neatly down a sliding screen beneath nan Page Down key. It pairs pinch awesome speed, and nan relationship is strong. The keyboard goes to slumber comparatively quickly (to prevention battery), but nan relationship is quickly reestablished aft a keypress—there is very small waiting around. It's worthy utilizing nan 2.4Ghz wherever possible. You'll acquisition almost zero input lag, and nan 2.4Ghz dongle offers a faster polling complaint than nan Bluetooth connection, which is important erstwhile gaming.

gamakay lk75 keyboard keycaps up adjacent side

I was besides impressed pinch nan modulation velocity from wired to 2.4Ghz. As soon arsenic you disconnect nan USB-C cable, nan 2.4Ghz USB dongle picks up nan connection, and you tin proceed typing.

The Gamakay LK75 has a 5,000mAh battery. Running nan LK75 utilizing 2.4Ghz wireless and pinch afloat RGB gives you betwixt 3 and 4 days of usage. Switching nan RGB lighting disconnected will massively summation this figure, but I don't person a circumstantial number of days. Still, fixed nan LK75 isn't really a portable mechanical keyboard, you're improbable to task excessively acold from a USB-C charger, truthful it shouldn't beryllium excessively overmuch of a concern.

Switches and Typing Experience

I'm testing nan Gamakay LK75 pinch a group of Phoenix linear switches. Now, these are immoderate of nan softest switches I've ever used, and they're surely bordering connected mushy. The Gamakay Phoenix switches person an actuation unit of 40g and a full recreation region of 3.3mm. It's a short distance, and because nan actuation unit is truthful light, you'll find yourself bottoming retired nan keys easily.

gamakay lk75 keyboard phoenix switches adjacent up

However, nan shallow Phoenix switches are designed for silence, and successful operation pinch nan layers of sound-dampening silicone, nan LK75 is simply a very quiet keyboard. You tin perceive conscionable really quiet nan LK75 is successful nan keyboard audio illustration below:

It really is 1 of nan quietest mechanical keyboards I've used, and could beryllium nan cleanable action for personification who wants to return a mechanical keyboard into nan agency without enraging their colleagues.

The typing acquisition is subjective, of course, but arsenic personification who spends each time each time typing, I'm pleased pinch nan LK75's performance. Again, nan somewhat too-soft Phoenix switches facet into this, and I judge astir group would for illustration somewhat much resistance. If that sounds for illustration you, nan Gamakay LK75 has respective different move options, including nan linear Jupiter move (50g) aliases nan tactile Pegasus move (45g).

gamakay lk75 keyboard basking swappable switches

You'll find nan gaming acquisition similar. The Phoenix switches are supremely responsive because of nan lightweight actuation force, but you whitethorn besides find yourself tapping nan overseas incorrect cardinal occasionally, which tin beryllium frustrating. Still, successful operation pinch nan 2.4Ghz wireless, nan LK75 is decent capable for gaming, making it a worthwhile mechanical keyboard for agency and gaming use.

Customization

As is becoming de rigueur successful nan mechanical keyboard world, nan LK75 features hot-swappable switches. Gamakay uses three-pin switches, but nan LK75 besides supports five-pin switches, truthful you person plentifulness of options. The switches are easy removable, and you shouldn't person immoderate issues swapping them out. I popped immoderate Gateron Brown switches into an quiet slot, and everything worked fine.

gamakay driver desktop package take lighting organization effects

Similarly, if you're utilizing a Cherry MX-compatible switch, you tin switch nan LK75 keycaps retired for almost immoderate alternative—but fixed really bully these look, why would you?

gamakay driver desktop package adhd image

Gamakay has developed a desktop customization instrumentality named Gamakay Driver. It's decent capable and is wherever you'll upload your images aliases GIFs to show connected nan TFT screen.

gamakay driver desktop package location page

One Gamakay Driver instrumentality characteristic I really for illustration is nan Community tab, from which you tin stock aliases download community-created lighting schemes, images, and much for your keyboard.

gamakay lk75 keyboard rear move and usb port

Some of nan lighting schemes connected connection were horrendous, but I could spot this being a useful instrumentality for Gamakay users, particularly if nan number of users grows.

However, astatine times, nan package is painfully slow. Switching betwixt nan regular and functional furniture connected nan main page takes an age, and while I admit Gamakay showing which usability keys are programmed (but not labeled), it needs to beryllium a spot faster.

Should You Buy nan Gamakay LK75?

The Gamakay LK75 retails for $120. It's a difficult value point, it has to beryllium said.

The LK75 keycap group is excellent, and nan printing is really high-quality. For this alone, I'm pleased pinch nan LK75. I recovered nan typing acquisition pinch nan Gamakay Phoenix switches good, if a small soft, and nan further move options disposable to would-be buyers should springiness capable prime for immoderate user. Including nan TFT surface knob pinch immoderate other functionality is simply a useful feature, but it's not thing everyone will use. I've enjoyed having nan MakeUseOf logo connected nan screen, and playing a GIF connected a keyboard is novel, but to what end?

As said, it's a competitory and challenging value point. For nan aforesaid price, you tin drawback nan Akko ACR Pro 75 pinch Akko's CS Crystal Switches—a highly-rated 75%. Or, for astir 30-40 bucks more, you could drawback nan all-metal wired Keychron Q1 (you'll person to walk much for nan wireless Keychron Q1 Pro).

So, yes, possibly nan Gamakay LK75 is somewhat much costly than it should be, but nan keycaps and typing acquisition should astatine slightest mean you springiness nan LK75 a due chance—especially if you usage aliases want to study Adobe Photoshop.

Image Credit: Gavin Phillips/MakeUseOf