Final words and conclusion
Final words and conclusion
I was pleased to use the new MSI Vigor GK50Low Profile TKL, although I’m not the greatest fan of the TKL keyboards (you know – normally I’m an accountant, and the Numpad is definitely "my thing"). The Kailh Low Profile switches provide typists' or gamers' speed, precision, and endurance. Actuating at 1.5mm, the mechanical switches are more than capable of handling the rapid firing of buttons. MSI includes alternate Ctrl and Alt keys (and a keycap puller) with convex humps instead of indentations to make them more easily to push rapidly. These convex keycaps are slightly taller, definitely making them easier to locate blindly. The MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL uses the clicky Kailh Low Profile Switches, and it’s a safe choice for the mechanical keyboard newbies, especially those aiming to mainly play games and have a classic clicking sound heard in the background.
Compared to the most known/used Reds, they have a lower pre-travel (1.5 mm vs 1.9 mm) and the same total travel of 3 (not 4) mm. As for the feedback type – there’s an audible click, not the linear one. Definitely, they are not quiet, and they shouldn’t be. So don’t plan to buy and use it when, for example, you have a PC in your bedroom (and the “other half” would like to sleep). The RGB lighting is here; you can set it via MSI Mystic Light software (which is a rather good suite), although I struggled with installing this software. The keyboard has dynamic per-key RGB backlighting. The quality of the keyboard itself is good; there are no major reasons to complain here, as the frame is sturdy and made of metal. The feet are rubbery, so the Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL stays in place as it’s supposed to, and you can adjust the height in three settings. There’s no palm rest (I sometimes missed that), no volume roller, no media control, still – this is not a standard for the TKL type of keyboards. You won’t get the USB pass-through.
Aesthetics
The MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL is a tenkeyless keyboard that looks nice, mainly thanks to the metal frame. The LED lighting system does what it's supposed to by offering vivid and crisp colours. You can select all-white or use it only on some keys (if they'd be able to install/use the Mystic Light Software, which is not so obvious). There's a possibility of individually adjusting each key lighting to your preference, so even the anti-RGB guys should be satisfied.
Final words
The MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL is a nice addition to the portfolio of MSI. They already had the GK50 Low Profile keyboard in the offer, but some people for sure wanted the tenkeyless version. Its price is reasonable (84.99 USD) for the product you receive. The Kailh Low Profile switches provide good feedback and user experience. They are serving well in both gaming and typing. Of course, you'll get the clicky sound, so you need to be aware of what you'll hear. The overall quality is more than good; the lighting is vivid – no complaints here. You get the N-Keys Rollover and Full Keys Anti-Ghosting. The polling rate is 1000 Hz. From the nice features – you'll get the scratch-resistant breathable drawstring bag that provides easy storage and effortless on-the-go travel. On the other side - there is no dedicated media keys/volume roller, as well there's no palm rest and the USB pass-through, but it would be rather surprising in this budget and TKL keyboard. The keycaps are made from the ABS, not the PBT, but again – it's rather nit-picking. Some may complain about the lack of usage of Cherry MX switches. Still, the competition of this company (Kailh/Gateron) is really catching up, and it's becoming more often that they have no reason to be ashamed of in a direct comparison (yeah, better try it, than base on the knowledge from the previous years). From more serious things – it's worth mentioning that we've encountered the problem with installing MSI Mystic Light under Windows 11, but that wasn't a big issue, as it was possible to set the lighting using the keyboard shortcuts. Summing it up – it's a very well deserved "Approved" due to the good price, the (build/lighting) quality, and the provided user experience (although I'm not a TKL fan, I can enjoy the good product).
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