AUKEY Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review – My Personal Best Budget Buy

Anyone who knows me could tell you I’m not exactly a bargain hunter. I believe that an expensive brand with a well known name should mean quality. What’s the point of buying 60p sandpaper-esque toilet roll if I end up having to use double the amount, just to ensure an accidental molestation wont happen. I’d prefer to pay for the quality brand to use one or two sheets to get the job done. It’s a stigma I’ve carried over almost all consumer products, PC peripherals are no exception.

I’ve had the pleasure of trying out Logitechs, Razers and Corsairs, all that only confirm my belief that going for a top named brand is the way to go. I’ve experienced weak budget mechanical keyboards that feel like the keys would snap under my fast typing finger tips, floppy space bars and undersized enter keys. Cables that fray easily and provide nothing but discomfort, let alone an advantage while gaming or typing.

So needless to say once I received my AUKEY Mechanical Blue Switch Keyboard, I already had the unfair stigma set in place that this keyboard would be no different. When removing the packaging I took note of it’s metallic base and compact design. It’s certainly no looker, but it’s usage of space is a show of efficiency. I unplugged my Corsair K30 Rubber Dome and replaced it with this little beast.

Ping! A new message on Facebook pops through, just a small “how’re the kids?” from my mother, I simple reply with the new keyboard in place “Yeah they’re good thanks.” I looked down, mouth gaping. Oh fast I was to judge the £35.99 keyboard, oh how I chuckled at the thought that such a budget device could match against the previous Mechanicals that had proceeded it. And I’ve never been so happy to be so wrong.

That quick 4 word reply already told me mostly of what I needed to know, suddenly I felt excited, I needed to try it in a game. My initial tests for keyboards are usually performed in my favourite RTS, Starcraft 2, where the difference between a good keyboard and a bad one are night and day. Due to its compact design I was able to reach keys without having to stretch my boy sized hands, each keypress felt natural with providing just enough resistance and tactile feedback to feel completely in  control of my actions within game.

Next I bunny hopped on to a CS:GO Hop Course. Man, let me tell you I completed courses I would of happily broken my previous rubber dome keyboard over. Left and Right movements while jiggle peeking and strafe stopping felt much more precise than I’m used to, so much so I would stop just shy of where I’m usually used to. Often prefiring in to a corner of a wall rather than the actual spot I was supposed to be shooting.

As previously stated, the board is no looker. It holds no glorious RGB and arrived in a plain cardboard box. But these things don’t really matter, they’re not needs just wants. Its black design is smart and professional looking, so much so I would happily use it within an office environment if I didn’t believe coworkers would butcher you for the constant tap-tapping the board emits.

Which leads me to the pinnacle question while reviewing a mechanical keyboard, how loud is it? Well it is loud, there’s no way around it, it’s a mechanical keyboard, they’re all pretty loud for the most part. But the AUKEY’s Blue Switch sound is different from its red, brown and black counter parts. It’s more “clicky,” the only word I can use to describe it.

Would I compare it up against the big brands like Razer and Corsair? Probably not. Lets face it, those brands give you a bunch of features in the keyboard like AUX inputs, USB ports and RGB programs that respond to the game on screen, they look nicer, are heavier, more customisable and are generally known to last a long time due to it’s braided cables and stocky bases.

Would I compare the feel of this keyboard with the likes of those who I’d rate so highly? Absolutely, I’m immensely surprised at the performance of the board. I’m even willing to state that for the price, you can’t beat it. I’ve tried many o’ board at this price range, all who fail to impress me. This one however, will remain on my desk until I can afford one of those sweet Chromas.

The keyboard is currently on sale at Amazon.co.uk for *£21.99 *18.10.2018