The Gamakay LK75 is one of the latest mechanical keyboards from the team at Gamakay, a brand focused on bringing affordable but quality options to gamers and mechanical keyboard fans. It features tri-mode wireless connectivity and features one of the quietest typing experiences we’ve encountered yet. It’s solidly built with a lot of attention to detail when it comes to typing and gaming and even includes a customizable OLED screen built into the volume knob. Unfortunately, its silent switches feel quite mushy, the screen is both dim and glossy, and the keycaps are strangely inspired by Adobe Photoshop — a fact that goes completely unremarked upon anywhere in the keyboard’s marketing. It can be a solid buy if you value quiet keys but at $119.99, it feels pretty expensive for everyone else.
Specifications
- Current Price: $119.99 (Amazon, Gamakay - 10% off with code Gamakay)
- Model: LK75
- The number of keys: 75% - 83 keys
- Switch: GamaKay Silent Switches (Phoenix, Griffin, Pegasus)
- GamaKay planet Switches (Venus Jupiter Mercury Mars )
- Keycap: MDA Profile Keycaps
- Connection: Type-C Bluetooth 2.4GHz wireless
- Structure: Top Mount
- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Knob: TFT Smart Display & Knob
- What’s in the box
- Gamakay LK75 75% Mechanical Keyboard with TFT Smart Display & Knob
- Type C cable
- Switch Puller
- Keycap Puller
- 4 Pcs PBT OEM Profile Double Layer Keycaps
Update - 9/7/23: In response to my feedback about pricing, Gamakay reached out to offer MMORPG readers a 10% discount when purchasing through the official website. Click this link and use code "Gamakay" to receive your discount at checkout.
Gamakay LK75 - Features and Build Quality
The Gamakay LK75 is a 75% mechanical keyboard, sometimes called a “compact TKL.” It has a full function row and arrow keys, but an abridged navigation and editing cluster that only includes Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down. There’s also a Delete key above Backspace. Where Pause, Print Screen, and Scroll Lock would usually fit is an oversized volume knob with a built-in OLED screen that can be customized using the included software. The footprint is closer to a normal tenkeyless than a typical 75% but still manages to be a bit more compact.
The LK75 has a definite retro vibe to its aesthetics. It uses a cream-colored case with stepped bevels and some trim work that blends the old school with the new. Modern vintage, if you will. The keycaps also include red-orange accent keys for the arrows, Enter, Escape, Backspace, and the Spacebar. They are also very busy with different legends (blue, orange, and black) which I’ll get to shortly. Around the back are two tilt feet and a metal weight with Gamakay branding, which I thought was a nice touch. Overall, I think it’s a very nice-looking keyboard with a unique style.
About those keycaps… they’re very thick, high-quality dye-sublimated PBT plastic. They’re also made to work with Adobe Photoshop. In addition to the normal legends, there are also second, third, and fourth legends that match up with shortcut keys and icons for the software. As a regular Photoshop user, I appreciated this, but I do find it a bit baffling. There is no mention of this anywhere, on any product page or marketing clip that I could find.
At $119.99, it’s more expensive than most of the other Gamakay keyboards we’ve looked at in the past. That higher price gets you more features and a keyboard that’s noticeably heavier and feels higher quality. In addition to the OLED screen, it also features tri-mode wireless connectivity. Using the included 2.4GHz wireless dongle, you can connect to your PC with only 1ms of input lag, similar to many wired gaming keyboards. It can also connect to up to three devices over Bluetooth which can be selected on the fly using a quick Fn key combination.
It also includes a 5,000 mAh battery for long battery life. We couldn’t test this in depth during our review window, but with lighting off, we would expect hundreds of hours of use over Bluetooth. With lighting on, our rundown over two weeks leads us to believe 80-100 hours would be a safe bet, depending on your brightness levels.
Gamakay LK75 - Built for Silence
The keyboard is well-built overall and is designed to deliver an exceptionally quiet typing experience. It comes with your choice of tactile or linear silent switches (linear Phoenix, tactile Pegasus, or tactile Griffin) and uses layers of silicone throughout its construction. There’s also a layer of plastic film across the PCB, which I would guess is meant to imitate the PE foam mod but doesn’t have the same “pop” effect on my sample. Sound dampening is very common is mechanical keyboards these days, but the LK75’s use of silicone instead of soft foam is directly targeted at silence versus minimizing hollowness and reverberations (which is does also).
The result of these elements is one of the absolute quietest mechanical keyboards we’ve ever tested. It’s quieter than many rubber dome keyboards, so if you’re looking for a keyboard that you can use in the office without bothering the person in the next cube, this is a great choice in overall volume.
Gamakay LK75 - Screen Time
The other hallmark feature of this keyboard is its built-in OLED screen. This is an in-vogue feature at the moment and you’ll see other reviews from us shortly that also have OLED screens. Trendy or not, it’s a nice addition. The over-sized volume knob is big enough to easily read and the default status screen tells you the time, battery level, operating system, and connection method. You can also upload your own GIFs using Gamakay’s software, which worked well on the first try, which isn’t always the case.
This screen also becomes like a command hub for the keyboard too. By clicking its face while holding the Fn button, you can access a menu that allows you to skip key combinations for its main features. There are options for connection mode, lighting controls (mode, brightness, color, and speed), and adjusting the brightness of the OLED screen. Anything more, and you’ll need to dive into the software. Press Fn and the face button again and it returns to normal volume control.
The screen experience could definitely be better, however. The biggest issue is that it’s just not very bright. The screen is also glossy, so if there’s any reflection, it can be hard to see. There’s also some strangeness with done of the numbers on the clock appearing to be bold while others aren’t. Choosing the option to sync the time with my PC in the software also set it to 24-hour time,
Gamakay LK75 - Customization, But No Need to Mod
The Gamakay LK75 offers you plentiful customization options. On the physical side, the switches are hot-swappable, so you can easily exchange them with another set. There’s no soldering required and Gamakay includes a combination keycap pulled This is fantastic if you want to change the sound or feel of your keyboard and make it feel new again without investing in a whole new keyboard.
There’s also a wide array of lighting effects and a surprising amount of customization within the software. You can customize the color, brightness, and speed or the 22 preset lighting animations, set you own static lighting schemes, and create your own frame-by-frame animations. You can even upload GIFs that can be displayed across the keyboard’s lights, though this isn’t a great option with so few LEDs to actually show the picture. It winds up looking a bit like masses of color instead of a real picture.
Doing all of this and then adding your own picture or GIF is a great way to make the keyboard your own.
Gamakay LK75 - Typing and Gaming Experience
The typing experience of the LK75 is an acquired taste. On the positive side, the switches are very smooth. I was sent the linear version and there’s no scratchiness or pinging whatsoever. The keyboard uses a top mount structure but with so much silicone and a polycarbonate plate, it’s still a very soft typing experience with a bit of flex. Gaming is also good. I didn’t have any issues with wireless responsiveness, so you can game with confidence and rid yourself of the wire.
The not-so-good side, I admit is personal and may not apply to you: the silent switches. These switches accomplish their silence with dampeners within the switch itself. This cushions the bottom out of the switch, creating a gentle tap instead of the crisp click you’re probably used to. If you like silent switches, you’ll likely enjoy it. If you don’t, just know: these feel pretty mushy. It’s common for this type of switch but the LK75 lacks the crisp typing of other mechanical keyboards.
Here’s the good news: Gamakay’s website lists four additional switches. They’re currently sold out, but their presence on the listing makes it seem likely that other options may be available in the future.
Final Thoughts
The Gamakay LK75 is a decent keyboard, but it’s quirky and not for everyone. If you don’t want Photoshop shortcuts permanently placed on your desktop, you’re out of luck, and it’s silent switches are classically soft and rather mushy. Combined with the dim, glossy screen, its $119.99 feels too expensive right now. There’s definitely something appealing to its aesthetics and Gamakay has done a great job of delivering one of the most silent typing experiences you can find on a mechanical keyboard, so more than most, this is going to be a subjective purchase.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Products purchased through our links result in a small commission for the site. Authors are not compensated through clicks or commissions.
