HK GAMING GK61 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - 61 Keys Multi Color RGB Illuminated LED Backlit Wired Programmable for PC/Mac Gamer Tactile (Gateron Optical Brown)

This keyboard has made me want to EXCLUSIVELY use Gateron Silent Brown switches. Its astonishing how quiet they are and still feel so tactile. The keyboard was just quiet enough out the box to bring to the office. Its a joy to type on and fully utilize my desk space with the 60% layout. All I need to do now to make it just 10% better is lube and band-aid mod. Spacebar sounds a little too loud in comparison to everything else and it would feel more consistent if this was done out the box. Still, doesnt take away from how good this keyboard is.

I love this keyboard no problems at all , inexpensive overall great product!

The RGB is amazing and very bright, and the size is perfect for gamming and really the only bad thing is that if you want to do any moding (like a tape mod) you cant do to much because its plastic and it will warp.

I was originally looking to buying a Razer Huntsman Mini for a 60% gaming keyboard with their 1.0mm actuation point optical switches. I saw some reviews demonstrating Razers switches sound terrible because they added a loose per key stabilizer. Then I realized this GK61 has everything the Huntsman Mini can provide without the rattly stabilizers and its literally half the cost. Go with the Silver or Yellow Gateron Optical Switch for that same 1.0 mm actuation point. Note: the speed of Optical vs Mechanical keyboard switches is likely too tiny to make a difference in gaming but the higher actuation point (1.0mm vs 2.0mm for most mechanical switches) does definitely make a difference. Highly recommended keyboard from this gamer.

An excellent mechanical keyboard with optical switches that is around $60.00 dollars. That sentence feels crazy to say, but its the gosh darn truth. This review is mainly for the Gateron Red Optical switch version of this keyboard. Pros 1. Hot-swappable. If a switch dies just pull it out and replace it (not likely to happen considering no metal leaf), or get some different Gateron Optical switches like blacks or yellows to change the entire feel of the keyboard. Example, these red switches are incredibly easy to press. I really like how smooth the linear switch is, so Id probably want to get some Gateron Optical Black switches. 2. Programmable. A really underappreciated plus is definitely going to be the software of this keyboard. Its not in English, but it definitely still gets the job done. There are also Macros which I have started to use more often. Example, I was able to change around my Home and End keys so that they are more comfortably near the Function key. 3. That FAST response time. There is a noticeable difference between pressing a Cherry MX Blue switch down and having the character move and pressing this linear optical switch down and having the character move. I think there are two reasons for this. a. The reason that actually matters, the switch actuation point is higher at 1.5 mm versus a Cherry MX Blue being at 2.00 mm. b. The optical nature of the switch is said to have a response time of 0.2 mm. I dont know if this actually matters in the long run, but its good to know that it may be faster. Cons 1. The key caps are okay, but I do think these switches need O-rings to be perfect. I think the sound of the key caps is my biggest issue with them; they just sound cheap and the O-rings keep them from hitting the bottom plate. My second issue is that they dont have a lot of texture to them so theyre kind of like in-between being smooth and textured which is just not a good feeling at all. 2. Certain keys are not programmable. For some reason all of the keys that change lighting effects and swab profiles cant be disabled. I think this would be my only real problem with the keyboard on the software level. 3. THIS IS A PET PEEVE. I like the RGB, the screws guys, but come on. Theyre not black nor are they white, just plain silver. I cant not see them. They stare at me between the key caps. Neutral 1. Theres a microphone in the keyboard for the Music back-lighting mode. I plan to mod this keyboard more, so Ill probably end up desoldering the microphone anyways. I wish it was more software and went by the audio playing on the computer since that would be sick. Current modifications: PBT key caps and O-rings. Queued modifications: Better stabilizers, desolder microphone, I plan to replace the O-rings with some type of foam insert that will dampen noise more and result in less fatigue, and I want to refine my function key layout and figure out some macros.

The keyboard has a fantastic build quality for its price. Its got exactly the 61% shape with the addition of my Home/pageup+down/arrow keys etc. The software.. oh dear. You have to google how to find the software, They dont even tell you about the software besides one leaflet in the box saying compatible with example.exe Its all dominatnly Chinese, they didnt even both doing a a full English translation of everything. There JUST enough english to scrape by, but the learning is all on you. Try to change a color? good luck, you have to figure out how to make a profile, then try to choose a color. HOPE that when you press save (if you find that button) that the color actually saves. In order to get a color of Aqua blue, no effects, I had to trick the software, but making multiple frames of that one color, do the hokey pokey with it, save and hope it stayed put. Once I figured out how to apply it... No aqua blue, just black. and now shift doesnt work. So I gave up for today and stuck with its default colors (the whole reason I got this and not another was because it included RGB to match my desk.) Get it for the keyboard, dont get it for customizing. You are going to be at the mercy of some poor team of programmers who were given a day to create it.

The keyboard is the best I’ve ever used the keys feel great and the keyboard fits any setup I do wish the software had more options but noticing time can’t fix

This is my first gaming keyboard and I love it. The lavender color is super pretty and the different lighting modes are fantastic. It feels very sturdy and like good quality. The keys feel fine, some people are saying the key caps aren’t good but I honestly don’t know why as they sound and feel good to me. The only bad thing about this keyboard is it is very slightly uneven at the bottom so it wobbles a little bit, you might have to put a piece of electrical tape or something there to fix it but that’s not a big problem at all, just kind of annoying. I highly recommend this

One thing I dont like bout the keyboard is how some of the sounds echos through and you can hear some hard key presses which I do a lot but thats just me being picky. The optical red switches are still very fast but I made a small buyers mistake and didnt buy the yellow switches but I can add them later on. This is definitely a great budget option for when you dont have a $100+ to spend on a Apex TKL or a Razer Huntsman Mini. I already see myself getting faster gameplay after only a month in.

I was very excited to receive this extremely popular keyboard. My favorite feature is its clickyness due to the blue switches I chose and I had a lot of fun customizing it and experiencing the all the intricacies that make a keyboard work. For the money, its an extremely fun product.