At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Incredible worth
• PBT “pudding” caps
• Great format
• Hot-swap swap sockets

Our Verdict

The G.Skill KM250 has a ton of options and unbelievable worth—it’s completely unbeatable at this value. The solely factor it’s lacking is programming.

Best Prices Today: G.Skill KM250 RGB Keyboard

$39.99

If you’ve been following my keyboard evaluations these days, you realize I’ve been lamenting the ever-increasing value of mainstream “gaming” boards that don’t appear to be in any approach associated to their precise operate. I used to be looking around for good budget alternatives when hastily G.Skill launched a brand new mechanical keyboard, priced at simply $55 on Amazon. How extremely fortuitous!

Of course, with a finances keyboard you hand over sure luxuries like a rotary dial—oh, wait, the KM250 has one. Well, you possibly can’t count on to pay so little and likewise get first rate keycaps…huh, truly, the KM250 has PBT “pudding” keycaps that complement the RGB lighting relatively properly. But in fact, with a finances board you get finances mechanical switches from [checks spec list] Kailh? What? Well there’s no approach that the board consists of hot-swap swap sockets so you possibly can swap them out for higher ones…oh wait it does that too.

Michael Crider/Foundry

In reality, the G.Skill KM250 has a laundry checklist of options which might be stunning to see on a board at this value vary, omitting just a few which might be pretty affordable. As such, it will get a simple advice for anybody on the lookout for a high-quality, entry-level board, particularly when you suppose you may need to spend money on some upgraded switches or keycaps.

What are the G.Skill KM250 specs?

The KM250 is a reasonably customary wired mechanical keyboard within the more and more common, and considerably nebulous, “65%” kind issue. That means your entire major typing keys and an arrow cluster, the absence of a operate row, and some extra keys rounding it out: In this case, Delete, Page Up, and Page Down, plus a rotary dial.

That dial has turn into a mainstay of premium keyboards—when you don’t have at the least one dial, don’t even hassle coming to the meetup—so it’s spectacular and welcome to see it on this finances construct. Though it’s as plastic as the remainder of the board, it does embody a “click” button once you press down, so it’s good for the usual quantity + mute performance.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Elsewhere you get a useful, if chunky, case with double-sectioned ft for 3 typing angles, a 6-foot removable braided USB-C cable, and a keycap/swap puller within the field. The keycaps are high-quality PBT, which another firms make you pay further for (Razer, I’ll stop calling you out for this once you cease doing it). The caps are of the considerably area of interest however interesting “pudding” type—that’s to say, strong black tops with translucent sides to make the RGB lighting shine even brighter. It’s less than the dazzling customary of the Roccat Vulkan collection, however it’s fairly good nonetheless.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Underneath are linear Red switches for quick, game-friendly key presses. As famous within the intro, the switches are from Kailh, a fairly large provider of switches each fancy (just like the “Blueberry Ice Cream Pro” ones within the Keydous NJ80-AP) and primary. These are primary Red switches, with none strengthened BOX stems or pre-lubed springs, however I recognize that G.Skill might have gone with a less expensive model and didn’t.

And lastly, the switches could be taken out of the plastic plate and changed with any MX-compatible various. Again, this can be a customary of costlier boards that by rights shouldn’t be in a single this low cost—it wasn’t within the Havit KB487L, for instance, and that board is just barely cheaper. The KM250 is an absolute marvel of mechanical keyboard worth.

Where is the G.Skill KM250 programmability?

G.Skill included just about the whole lot on this board, except you’re on the lookout for wi-fi choices or unique building. But there may be one factor on the fundamental laundry checklist that isn’t right here: programmability. The KM250 is locked to the format you get out of the field, together with the operate layer and lighting controls—the one obtain you’ll see on the help web page is a digital copy of the short begin information you get within the field.

Michael Crider/Foundry

Not that the information is admittedly crucial. The sub-functions of every key are printed on the keycaps, and straightforward sufficient to determine on their very own. With no lighting programming choices, you do get an admirable number of mild reveals: 18 totally different animation choices in varied colours, for which you’ll be able to modify the pace and path. I’m not likely a fan of RGB, so I set it to the static rainbow and left it there.

This is the place I’d put a screenshot of the programming instrument. But there isn’t one. Sorry about that.

Michael Crider/Foundry

So sure, there’s the KM250’s one weak spot, if it’s truthful to name it a weak spot in a keyboard this low cost. That stated, an absence of programmability doesn’t actually matter for the acknowledged aim of PC gaming, since every recreation ought to assist you to re-bind key controls. Otherwise it’s right down to OS-level instruments, like my go-to, SharpKeys.

Typing and gaming on the G.Skill KM250

So the one factor left to ask is, is it a superb keyboard to make use of? Plainly, sure. You don’t get the flamboyant really feel that comes from extra premium components—the whole lot right here is plastic to at least one diploma or one other. But it’s about nearly as good as mass-produced plastic can get, and really a lot in keeping with G.Skill’s fame for useful, low-priced {hardware}. (Love your RAM DIMMs, by the best way!)

Michael Crider/Foundry

The KM250 works equally properly as a full-time keyboard or as a secondary, extra moveable choice, due to its light-weight construct and full devoted arrow cluster. If you need one thing to convey alongside to a LAN social gathering (or maybe extra well timed, simply hanging out at your good friend’s place whilst you each play on-line), it’ll try this, albeit not fairly as stylishly as one thing low-profile just like the Razer DeathStalker or Keychron K series.

And when you simply need a cheap board to see what this mechanical craze is all about, it’ll try this, too. Just for the hell of it, I took the wonderful unique switches from the Keydous NJ80 and my favourite “Galaxy Class” DSA keycaps. I wished to simulate a bunch of cash poured into this low cost board, and sure, a number of premium components goes a lot farther on this board than many others in its value vary. For instance, after I observed that there’s additionally sound-absorbing foam beneath the plastic plate, and even within the hole beneath the house bar, stopping the distinctive “space rattle.” MAN this board goes a lot tougher than it has to!

Michael Crider/Foundry

Should you purchase the G.Skill KM250?

The KM250 is an astonishingly good worth, and will get a simple advice except you merely should have the power to program your keys and lighting. For everybody else it’s an absolute steal, setting a brand new gold customary for super-cheap, super-functional mechanical boards.