Customer Ratings & Reviews

Note: I purchased the wrist rest separately elsewhere I loved the keyboard itself, but I ended up replacing it for reasons I’ll cover in the Cons below. PROS - Incredibly buttery smooth switches and stabilizers. I’m not sure if they’re factory lubed or something, but I would bet money that you won’t find any non-custom keyboard with keys that feel this frictionless. - Beautiful keyboard in-person. However, you’ll see hotspots out of the corners of your eyes if you shift around in your seat too much, since there’s nothing diffusing the LEDs on the switches, and they’re mostly exposed. - Very vivid RGB. CONS - The software is extremely limited in what kind of control it allows you to have over the board. You can’t actually remap anything. You can change what some of the keys do when “Game Mode” is enabled in the sense that you can disable the key during Game Mode. You can also change the Caps Lock to function as “Easy Shift”, which is just Roccat’s version of something like Hyper Shift or G Shift. Holding this key down allows you to have access to alternate keys for part of the board, but only letter keys, and only as far over as the F key for some reason (So, QWERT, ASDF, ZXC. I don’t remember if V, G, and T are included or not, but I don’t think so.). They don’t let you change the Easy Shift functions of any other key. Actually, 1-5 might also be included, but I can’t remember. I was hoping I could remap my Caps Lock to something like CTRL, as I really didn’t find holding Easy-Shift (Caps Lock) down and pressing something like E as something that felt practical. When I first got the board, Easy Shift seemed to work across brands, and essentially holding it would activate Hyper Shift on my Razer MMO mouse, but they patched that out in any update for some reason, and it never worked again. This is a really terrible and convoluted solution to remapping keys. - The software felt like you bought a cheap knockoff keyboard at a premium price. It was super dated-looking and feeling. - The keys are a semi-glossy ABS, which shows natural hand oils very easily. I didn’t have the keyboard long enough for it to develop any permanent “shine”, or for any of the legends to wear off/down, so I can’t really confirm or deny anything to that nature. It’s not worth replacing the keys with normal PBT keycaps since it really ruins how good the switches underneath the keycaps feel (I tried it with some keycaps I had because I was curious). Roccat doesn’t seem to sell replacement keycaps for these Vulcan boards either as far as I could tell. They might be replaceable through your warranty, but they don’t give you any Avenue to get white keycaps for their TKL boards, for example (they don’t make a white version of the TKL keyboards for whatever reason). - Some like the volume knob, but I always felt like I was forcing myself to use it to justify its existence. Also, the keyboard’s backplate was metal, but the knob was a rigid plastic, and it felt kind of tacked on as a result. - The mute button that’s next to the volume knob can’t be remapped to anything else and didn’t really seem like something I wanted on the board after initially feeling like it would be nice to have. Also worth noting, after about a month of having it, i came over to my desk after a workout, but before getting a shower, and reached across the keyboard and I saw a single drop of sweat land on the mute button and got worried about it, but told myself there was no way it was enough to get down into the board, so it’ll be fine… Sure enough, the mute button would randomly toggle every once in a while and mute my sound periodically… I ended up replacing the keyboard mainly because I didn’t like that I wasn’t able to just remap keys (especially since I never use caps lock and that’s prime real estate when it comes to gaming). It felt like Roccat was actively limiting the usefulness of the board through the software. Eventually, I would have had to replace the keyboard regardless due to the issue with the mute button, but the missing ability to remap was the reason I chose to get a different brand entirely. Coincidentally, as it turns out, Logitech doesn’t let you remap their keyboards anymore either, so I returned that one and got a Corsair one, since they let you remap anything all the way down to the hardware level. Of note, if you care about remapping, Razer has onboard hardware profile storage and allows you to store most key remappings to the profiles, but the remaps don’t actually work without their software running in the background anyway… that’s a whole other topic though.

I purchased this on a recommendation from a friend and I'm glad he did. I thought I would miss the num pad but I don't. It saves room on my not so big desk which gives me better mousepad room in return. The keys are soo smooth when pressed and sometimes I forget how smooth and how easy it is to type. I was able to download the software and easily customize my key colors. Feels nice and sturdy as well. I don't regret this purchase at all.

WOW! This is a pretty sweet keyboard! It's low profile, but the keys are tall so it doesn't feel too low. The volume is fast and easy mixer style knob and a mute button beside it. I really like the style. The keys have linear optical switches and it rates at 100 million stroke life cycle! That's pretty fantastic!!! The travel distance is super nice too with a very satisfying click with each touch and the keys just feel good. They are full size keys with decent spacing and doesn't feel crowded at all. It comes with a detachable USB-C cable if you're into custom cables. Oh, and this one is TKL: ten key less, giving more room for mouse movement. The really awesome lighting is AIMO intelligent so that it will sync with other devices that are AIMO compatible. The transparent switch housing makes the lighting on this keyboard gorgeous! The one downside I see with this keyboard: the oils on my fingers show on the keys a lot more than I would like. (No, I haven't eaten around my keyboard yet.) I love the closed off system so that it's easy to clean, just by tilting it to allow crumbs to slide right off (if you do eat while you game.) Overall This is a pretty solid keyboard and I'm very happy to have it.

This keyboard is amazing. As soon as I removed it from the box I was already impressed. Build quality is great. It’s a compact size so no number pad to the right like some larger keyboards provide, but there is plenty of space around the rest of the keyboard. It feels spacious and I never feel cramped when using this keyboard. It feels super premium and dense. The key travel is great, and each key has the same feel throughout. The RGB lights are nice and bright, but not blinding. It has some nice function keys on top to control music, and a great little dial to control volume levels. It took me a minute to get used to this keyboard since I was using a larger keyboard prior to this one, but now I wouldn’t go back to the other larger gaming keyboard I have. This one just feels so great to use. Plus, it takes up less real estate on my desk, which is a nice bonus.

This keyboard is nice. The rgb is cool to mess with. The app for it is easy enough to use as well. The keys are noisy compared to mechanical switches. My headset blocks them out and no one can hear them through my mic so it’s a nonissue. The lack of ten key saves some desk space as well.

REVIEW: ROCCAT® VULCAN TKL PRO COMPACT OPTICAL RGB GAMING KEYBOARD Best Buy Tech Insider Network LOVE HOW IT LOOKS – GREAT FOR GAMING Perfect ascetic design. All in all, it is a very good keyboard and worthy of a test run for your gaming rig. Even my wife (who generally cares less about my computing gadgets) thought it looked cool and wanted it for her computer. I love the compact design and footprint (see pic to see how much smaller than my full size office keyboard). I love the analog control knob for volume. You can customize the colors to be / do just about whatever you want. The software is a lot more user friendly than another leading LED gaming keyboard. The inclusion of Arrow and Page keys is brilliant vs a full numeric keypad. FAVORITE FEATURES - Attractive Small Footprint - Full Stroke Keys with strong resistance - Arrow and Page Keys - Full Control of all keys for unique colors - Analog Volume Control - Dedicated Function Keys (sometimes not found on small keyboards) - Detachable USB-C cable. Such a good but simple idea SETUP: We temporarily went off the rails here. Before any testing, I always update to the latest drives and firmware. On the first installation of the SWARM software, the installer crashed. I rebooted and tried again, this time the installation completed, but it would start SWARM. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling it still would not work (SWARM would not load). I found a forum that said you needed to manually delete the directory where it installs and then try again. This time it worked. Once I fired up SWARM it found the keyboard and updated the firmware. So we are off and running. As mentioned, customizing the lighting was super easy with “predefined groups” of keys like “function”, “arrow” and so on. Once I had the keys and effects to my liking, I saved them to my default profile and selected “auto configure”. Now when I boot up, it loads my profile and assigns the right colors to the keys. Here is my pet peeve with LED keyboards. I HATE RAINBOW PATTERNS. I don’t want to see them ever. When the computer is booting, I have to wait until windows is loaded before the RAINBOW stops. Also, when the computer goes into screen saver mode the keyboard goes back into RAINBOW mode. I will allow that I might not be doing something correctly, but WHY WHY WHY won’t it save the default profile in the keyboard and leave it alone. Almost all but the most expensive LED keyboards have this behavior, so this is not taking away from the ROCCAT, I just wish it had this feature. (no points removed from review) USING THE KEYBOARD and FEATURES As for gaming, I tested this on Doom and Battlefront II. It worked great, I had no errors or misfires or ghosting. Again it a gaming keyboard, first and foremost and it does a great job in the respect. I think it keeps up with mechanical keyboards costing nearly 2X. I can highly recommend this for Gaming. I had strong hopes to use this as my everyday keyboard, but I can’t. Keeping in mind keyboards are a personal preference as well as muscle memory. The keys are (or seem) smaller than normal full size keys. There is room for larger keys, but instead they chose wider separation between keys (more air gaps). As a touch typist, I could not get use the smaller keys. I also found that for a “fast” keyboard, I was constantly missing letters as I typed. This could be because the keypress is pretty firm, or the small keys I’m not sure. It seemed that about every 4th letter it missed what I typed. My other “gaming” keyboard is full on mechanical (not simulated) and I’ve never had the issue of missing letters. I could probably get used to it, but I did not take to it right away. The other feature I tried but quickly disabled was the digital sound effect for key clicks. It is a great idea, but the effects could not keep up with my typing and it was throwing me off. The effect would occur a fraction after I pressed the key. In the end, it was just noise for the sake of noise. A tiny speaking in the keyboard would have been better assuming it was faster at making the noise closer to the keypress. OVERALL RECOMMENDATION I think it is a great keyboard, well made, with good software and granular control over lights. For gaming, you would have a hard time finding a better keyboard at this price. If you want mixed use keyboard, and are a strong typist, you might have to look at different units. For keyboards, speakers, and monitors, you really need to test these hands on.

Nicely built. Medium weight. Not too plastic not too heavy. Keys stand up and looks really nice. Lights at the base of each key has clear plastic to show off LED lights nicely. Ran on window 10 with no problems. Used swarm software to customize light pattern, macros, delay time, sound feedback, etc is really cool... Swarm also has presets for certain games. And had my favorite Rainbow 6. Volume control is easy to use dial. Comes with everything needed to use. I would recommend this product.

---- Summary ---- Pros: - Exceptional gaming performance - Stylish and compact design - Highly customizable lighting - Feels durable and sturdy - Detachable, braided USB cable - Dedicated volume control dial and mute button Cons: - Keys feel a bit too small for typing - No wrist rest ---- Review ---- Design: With its compact tenkeyless (TKL) and low-profile design valuable desk space is freed up, yet the Vulcan TKL Pro makes a statement. Its build quality is admirable, and I like the look of matte black keys with a brushed aluminum backplate. The braided USB cable, mute button, and volume control dial are nice touches that are subtle but appreciated. The stylish design is further enhanced by the numerous key illumination settings that can be customized in the ROCCAT Swarm app. More on that later. Although I wouldn’t describe the Vulcan TKL Pro keyboard as ergonomic, its low-profile does make typing on it somewhat comfortable for short periods of time. However, if you’re doing a lot of typing, I wouldn’t recommend it as a daily driver. I think the main reasons I don’t enjoy the typing experience is the lack of a wrist rest and the somewhat small key size. There’s a fair amount of space between the keys, so I wish some of that space was utilized for a larger key size, and a detachable wrist rest would’ve been a nice add on to this great keyboard. With that said, I recognize the Vulcan TKL Pro is designed for gaming, so I didn’t feel that these typing related drawbacks should significantly affect my rating. I’m happy to report that gaming on it is a fantastic experience, and I have no complaints about the design in that regard. If your priority is typing effectively and comfortably, I wouldn’t recommend this keyboard, but if your priority is gaming performance, look no further. Gaming Performance: ROCCAT’s “Titan Switch Optical” delivers impressive responsiveness. I’ve used the keyboard while playing several different games, and each keystroke is always recognized without delay. There’s no “ghosting” either. I’m a fan of the sturdy, mechanical feel, and I think the level of performance is as advertised. Extensive use and long gaming sessions are no problem for this durable keyboard. My gaming performance may waver, but the Vulcan TKL Pro’s does not. Based on my positive experience using this keyboard, I trust that each keystroke will deliver a lightning-fast response, and that’s exactly what I look for in a gaming keyboard. Customization: All the customization options for the Vulcan TKL Pro reside in the ROCCAT Swarm app. It’s a quick download from ROCCAT’s website, and I had no issues installing the app or the recommended keyboard driver update. The key illumination options are extensive. There are several color themes to choose from that can be applied to the entire keyboard or specific keys, or you can fine-tune the color scheme using RGB number codes. Additionally, there are several lighting patterns/effects, and these can be customized for the entire keyboard or specific keys as well. The Vulcan TKL Pro also features AIMO intelligent lighting, which unifies AIMO-compatible devices and allows lighting effects to “jump” across devices. I wish I could test this feature out, but the Vulcan TKL Pro is the only compatible device that I have so far. Nonetheless, I like that the extensive lighting customization options allow me to make the keyboard look exactly how I want it. Other customization options include key assignments, character repeat, and sound feedback. These all work as designed, but I personally don’t like the sound feedback, which plays customizable sounds through your computer speakers upon pressing a key. The reason I don’t like it is the slight delay between keystroke and sound feedback. I prefer the natural sound that the keyboard itself makes. Overall, when it comes to customization options, there’s nothing more I could ask for. Verdict: Gaming on the Vulcan TKL Pro is fantastic, and it looks stunning. From aesthetic to performance, it’s easy to see that a lot of thought went into the design and engineering of this keyboard. I think it’s just shy of a five-star product due to the keys being a bit too small for typing and the lack of a wrist rest. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Vulcan TKL Pro is a contender for one of the best gaming keyboards on the market. If gaming performance is your priority, get this keyboard, but if typing effectively and comfortably is a dealbreaker for you, look into other options. Keyboard preferences vary from person to person, so if you can get your hands on one at a store before purchasing, that may help you make the decision.

Everything about this Keyboard is nothing but Perfect. The build is Solid, The Keys are smooth to the touch and The RGB is Absolutely Amazing!!! My only gripe as others have mentioned is the Swarm Software. I almost regretted buying this when it came to the download. I think over time Roccat will make this easier as I'm sure they've gotten their fair share of complaints. But even with the software headache I am still in Love with this Keyboard.

Overview—So let's be frank, before getting my hands on the Roccat Vulkan TKL Pro I wasn’t even aware Roccat was a thing. Later after doing a little research I learned it is a name from Turtle Beach, a name I’ve come to love for their headsets. Fast forward to review day, I learned Turtle Beach had acquired Roccat in mid 2019—knowing that really helped me understand the why’s to my ignorance. Anyway, the Vulkan TKL Pro is a heavily geared gaming keyboard, with it’s numeric keypad out of the picture for better mouse movement space. Beautiful, permanent, keycaps and dust proof key base. RGB backlit keys with a wide array of color choices/lighting patterns. It makes for a great gaming keyboard. Just be aware that the software side of things is a bit wonky, which I’ll cover further below. It 100% works flawlessly but configuring things is more complicated than it should be. Design—It’s brushed aluminum faceplate is a beautiful addition to the keyboard. The keycaps have a contrasting appearance from the faceplate making them slightly easier to see in an overly bright desk environment. The USB-A to Type-C is a braided but sturdy cable measuring roughly 5.5’. With a weight of 1lb 6.6oz it comes in as a very light, but sturdy keyboard. One thing I’d really like to point out that I am not a fan of. The volume and media controls could have had better placement. For one, the volume is a knob which reminds me of a Dj’s mixer more than anything. It feels out of place going from key presses during a game to lifting your entire hand off the keyboard to adjust the volume. A series of 6 buttons in the upper corner would have been a better option for me. It allows for the use of the index, middle, or ring finger over the thumb to control volume. Performance—The optical switches are quick and responsive, which makes great for gaming. However, I see that the key switches have a slight delay of about ⅛” before a keypress is registered. It isn’t bad, in my use case of typing, this is a benefit rather than an issue. Nor for gaming do I feel bogged down between keypresses. This goes for FPS, RPG, and platformers. It’s smaller frame makes for better placement on both desk and from yo9ur hands for more intense pvp matches. The last point I;d like to mention is that several of the FN (Function) shortcuts tend to have a delay. This most likely ties into the software aspect of things but do wish to point that out here. Software—So finally, the area I’ve had the most issues with. For starters, the swarm software features a rather un-intuitive interface. Mapping keystrokes for example, and other shortcuts have yielded little progress. You drag & drop and apply your settings, execute your keystrokes and get nothing. Only a specific set of keystrokes have worked for me and others, well no. The sound effects are a nice novelty addition. For the entire time of ownership I’ve used the clicking sound that triggers every time you press a key on the keyboard. Do note, only the Roccat keyboard will trigger a click. If you have more than 1 keyboard plugged in as I do your other keyboard will not trigger any click. Last but not least, most looking into these types of keyboards want that cool looking RGB functionality. Want pulsing light to flash across the keyboard? You got it! Next you want all blue keys permanently lit? You got it! Next you want a custom set of rules to flash your keys in a certain pattern using a specific set of colors? You don’t got it!!! The RGB customizations aren’t endless with Roccat’s Swarm software. There is a very low ceiling here. The presets are a little better as far as customizations. The only preset locked into being just that is the “Snake” preset which doesn’t allow any customization options other than speed. I’ve found that the default AIMO Intelligent Lighting preset is the best preset I like, everything else fells rather lacking. Conclusion—This was a tough one to weigh out and would definitely be a 5 star product. All-in-all, the Roccat Vulcan TKL Pro is a great gaming keyboard if you can get past the lack of customization options in your layout as everything else regarding the keyboard is of stellar quality. Software may see future updates which can potentially make your keyboard into an amazing piece of gaming gear. NOTE—Tested on both Windows 7 & Windows 10

OK... I LOVE LOVE this TKL keyboard. It feels right for me. I was due for an upgrade for the Corsair k95 plat. And took my chance with the roccat tkl pro and I am in love with this keyboard. I have sampled other keyboards owned by friends and this one is just right. It feels soft and doesnt have a annoying clicky sound. I think the price fits the quality of this keyboard. It has weight and durability and a sleek design that feels high end. I might buy another one and use it for work. Since it has a detachable usb c, I feel like it would be easy to travel with

Absolutely excellent out of the box. EASILY the best bang for your buck. The quality of it is insane & I was pleasantly surprised by the hefty weight, it feels very solid on my desk. The key travel is perfect & the rgb is intense. As a keyboard, what more could you ask for?

I like this gaming keyboard. I also like that the RGB effects on this keyboard is extra bright due to the design of the keyboard. Great quality too.

I was looking to get more desk space since I use stand up desk attachment. I didn't want to go to the 60% because I wanted my arrow keys and a few others. So I went in the middle with this, and feel I made the right choice. I used to have LeaningTech LTC Gaming Keyboard K828 Metal Panel, and was a little bulky for the set up I wanted. I was also concerned about it being to load it isn't to bad but there is still noise when typing. It isn't has bad as some keyboards but my older style keyboard was more quite. The noise though isn't bad enough for me to return it or a deal breaker.

Excellent keyboard love the smaller size and having no numbers on the side. love the lighting on it too.

RGB makes everything better, also its compact which is a step up from my previous keyboard

This keyboard is really nice, a great buy. The keys are so clean.

Strong back plate, fits any setup. The LEDs along with the gap configuration are honestly the best looking features I've seen on a keyboard. However, it does like my fingers have to set a little higher and reach further with the keys being set up higher than a normal one. Overall, a very good-looking and sounding keyboard.

I replaced a 5 year Corsair mechanical for this. The keys are super responsive and have a great touch and feel. I feel much faster with key presses. Lighting is good and program is easy to use.

Had this for about 3 weeks. Good so far. I noticed one button, the 6 makes a springy noise so I think its a defect. But overall, the build seems sturdy and will last for a while.