[PLUS] Custom gaming keyboards in a comparison test

Mechanical keyboards where the key switches can be exchanged using hot-swap technology, such as the Epic Gear Defiant or the Tesoro Gram Spectrum, were niche products until now. Even the Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard (GMMK) that we tested in issue 12/2019, a barebone that can be equipped with 3-pin switches from Gateron and Kailh as well as various keycap variants, was only partially accepted by gamers. A good two years later things have changed. Custom keyboards, which you can assemble according to your personal preferences in terms of the color of the housing and the key caps as well as the switches, are currently in vogue. What could be the reason for the sudden popularity? We try to clarify this with our comparison test, among other things.

attempt at categorization

Custom mechanical keyboards, all of which have a printed circuit board (PCB) capable of changing key switches (hot-swap technology) as a common feature, can be divided into four categories based on their customization options. The first group includes models where you can only change the key switches, as with the Logitech G Pro X gaming keyboard tested here, whereby the switch PCB of the keyboard in tenkeyless format can only be equipped with the 3-pin variant. As with the Sharkoon SGK 50 S4, the switch circuit board of the custom keyboards in the second category accommodates all 3-pin and 5-pin switches. In addition, you can exchange some of the key caps for other variants, which the manufacturer usually offers itself.

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