ROCCAT Ryos MK Review

👤by Tim Harmer Comments 📅08-11-13
A Closer Look




With the Ryos MK now out of its packaging we’re struck by how similar its shape is to that of the Isku, ROCCAT’s premium membrane keyboard. Whilst it’s a little more back-to-basics - no profile indicator LEDs or dedicated media keys - the oversized integrated wrist-rest and key layout is still highly reminiscent of the overall look. This includes the position of the Macro and Thumbster keys, although there are one or two slight differences.

ROCCAT claim a glossy finish for the Ryos MK’s frame, but that's not quite how we'd describe it. Framing the typing area is a plastic with a satinised surface effect which, if not highly reflective (with the exception of a thin band with runs around the typing area), is significantly smoother and more pleasant to touch than the standard plastic finishes of competitor designs. A matte typing area itself has small glossy dimples which are very slightly reflective. In general the design won’t be hampered by fingerprints, which is certainly a plus, but may not quite satisfy your aesthetic requirements.



The Ryos MK utilises Cherry MX Black switches and black keycaps with a high-grip painted finish. Unlike most other mechanical gaming keyboards we’ve reviewed to date the Ryos MK doesn’t make use of LED lighting, which has instead been reserved for the MK Glow and MK Pro models. Clear printed characters top each keycap in a coating which doesn’t stand too proud of the key surface and may wear with time. A lack of backlighting and/or UV coating will make the MK a little less suitable for low-light conditions than most other keyboards in its price bracket.

We’ve not come across Cherry MX Black switches for some time, and essentially they are stiffer variant of the linear switch used in the MX Red. Rather than 45cN of actuation force required, MX Blacks need 60cN - 33% more. The upshot is that keys are harder to press whilst also springing back more quickly, making them more suited to competitive gaming. MX Blacks aren’t quite the stiffest linear mechanical switch; the next higher up are MX Dark Greys sitting at 80cN which are often used for spacebars and return keys on MX Black keyboards.



Five macro keys labelled M1-M5 are on the left hand side, as well as the Easy-Shift[+] key. The latter, replacing the Caps-Lock key, is ROCCAT’s modifier for unlocking secondary key assignments for the keyboard as a whole. If unnecessary in a particular configuration it’s possible to revert the behaviour of the key to Caps Lock on a per-profile basis in software, allowing the keyboard to retain core functionality even as it unlocks additional flexibility. A row to the left of the main keyset is the ideal location for macro keys, keeping the stretch from the WASD-zone as low as possible.



Below the spacebar are the three Thumbster buttons. We first came across these keys in the Isku, but ROCCAT have tweaked their design somewhat to increase the surface area of each button and have them sit flat to the keyboard frame. They’re also quite stiff if not uncomfortably so, preventing them from being pushed by an accidental thumb tap. Reaching from T3 to M1 will be something of a stretch for anyone not blessed with large hands as the diagonal is about 18cm wide, but hitting both T1 and T2 from WASD is trivial. Each Thumbster button is also illuminated, and these are the only illuminated keys on the keyboard.

Moving to the top row we have the F-keys, which double as media keys when pressed with the FN key. A lack of dedicated media keys will disappoint some, and it’s worth noting that this lack us shared by the Ryos MK design higher in the range, but for most gamers it shouldn’t be an issue of any great significance. It’s also possible to remap any key on the keyboard to a multimedia function, so if absolutely necessary dedicating a keyboard profile to media consumption is always an option.

Unlike F1-F10, F12’s secondary function doesn’t mimic a media key or Windows command. Instead it’s used for recording macros live without a software configuration tool, and so is extremely important for the keyboard’s stand-alone use.



Three indicator LED sit above the arrow keys rather than the number pad. Normally these would just register NumLock, CapsLock and ScrollLock statuses, but as with seemingly every component on this keyboard they pull double-duty. Serving as a CapsLock indicator, [+] also flashes on when the Easy-Shift[+] modifier is active, whilst ScrollLock helps with indicating the status of live macro recording.

By locating the LEDs here ROCCAT keep them within a relatively narrow field of view, making them more valuable during gameplay sessions when the focus in mainly on the monitor and (very rarely) WASD zone.



The floor of the Ryos MK is pretty interesting in of itself. Cut into the base are wire channels which act as a cable tidying system for mice, headsets and the like. We have seen these useful designs in the past, and it’s good to note that ROCCAT haven’t taken the misstep of not allocating enough area to the non-slip rubber pads. Five substantial ones border the keyboard with two additional on the bottom of the extendible feet; cable channels run either side of each pad, ensuring that cables can exit from any side of the keyboard.

Finally, the USB cable isn’t braided. ROCCAT have instead chosen a soft plastic finish and included a Velcro cable tie for cable management. Although this will have a minor knock-on impact on long-term durability the more likely complaint will be from an aesthetic point of view.

So, upon closer inspection the Ryos MK is looking like a keyboard which has pared down its feature set in order to fit into a <£90 price point. The most obvious shortcoming is that of illumination, but the lack of USB & Audio passthrough as well as profile indicator LEDs will also serve to keep it firmly out of the premium category when it comes to feature sets.



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