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Superb keyboards: Every thing it is advisable to know
Up to date: Jan 6, 2023 4:06 pm
Desk of Contents
Desk of Contents
Ah sure, wonderful keyboards, the current apple of each mechanical keyboard fanatic’s eye. Not solely have Superb (up till lately generally known as Superb PC gaming race) made an announcement with the machismo logos and advertising fashion that walks the road between quirky and bohemian, however they’ve made a number of the finest mechanical gaming keyboards so far.
We’re massive followers of Superb right here at WePC, not just for the aforementioned amusing branding however for the dedication to high quality and (normally) cheap pricing. This pricing feels much more accessible in 2023 as we’re bored with making an attempt to afford good gaming stuff within the midst of a residing disaster.
Nevertheless, it should be stated that their gaming keyboards, nonetheless premium, will not be named in essentially the most easy-to-understand approach. To that finish, right now we’re going to go over their vary of keyboards and determine what the variations are, and by the tip of this web page, you’ll know which wonderful keyboard is the best one for you. Let’s take a better look, and the place higher to start out than the start? Superb’ first-ever mechanical gaming keyboard, the GMMK.
Superb GMMK 1
Coming into the keyboard marketplace for the primary time is a dangerous transfer to make. You run the danger of angering mechanical keyboard fanatics the world over, particularly the very explicit of us over at r/mechanicalkeyboards. The PC gaming group total has grown to count on a really excessive degree of product high quality. So we’re positive the individuals over at Superb breathed a collective sigh of aid when the GMMK was met with a really constructive reception when it was launched all the way in which again in 2016.
It’s nonetheless doing properly all these years later, obtainable with the timeless and ever-popular full-size, TKL, and compact 60% kind components. If you’re an absolute minimalist, the GMMK is the one for you because the 60% variant is essentially the most compact keyboard that Superb at the moment produce. Moreover, Superb did their homework so the GMMK 1 comes with a completely hot-swap suitable PCB that accepts each 3 and 5-pin Cherry MX fashion switches. These traits are what players and mechanical keyboard individuals really need. A keyboard that locks you right into a sure ecosystem is a factor of the previous.
Superb additionally made some good selections when it got here to globalization, because the GMMK 1 is accessible in both the ANSI or ISO format, catering to each North-American customers and Europe. In addition they have a variety of keycaps obtainable in each ABS and PBT to additional improve the standard of the typing expertise.
Relying on whether or not you’re a glass half full or half empty kind of particular person, you can say they’ve both taken inspiration from or completely ripped off the design of WASD keyboards. Regardless, it’s a smooth look that avoids superfluous logos and retains the keyboard from being over-designed, like what we proceed to see from the producers resembling ASUS ROG and AOC.
By way of pricing, it’s tough to nail down because the pre-built variant is round $100, however including totally different keycaps, key switches, and O-Rings can quickly push the worth north of $200. So should you’re tempted to purchase the GMMK 1, watch out because the ‘customise’ button is a slippery slope.
Superb GMMK Professional
These of you who need a fully-prepped jumping-off level into the world of customized mechanical keyboards ought to go for the GMMK Professional. Not solely does the GMMK professional include a real 75% gasket mount aluminum body, however it leaves the remaining completely as much as you, and all of the elements are shipped individually, so that you get the total keyboard-building expertise. It’s price noting right here, that that is the one Superb keyboard with a gasket-mount design, so if that’s your most popular mounting technique, this would be the Superb board it is advisable to get.
Moreover, these of you who’ve a robust choice for quantity knobs ought to solely think about this one out of the Superb lineup because it’s conspicuously absent from the GMMK 2, one thing we think about to be a misstep because the inclusion of a programmable knob is one thing we like right here at WePC, and we proceed to be disillusioned by its relative lack of ubiquity within the gaming keyboard area.
One other conscientious providing regarding the DIY side of this board is Superb’s on-line information on how you can absolutely disassemble this board and substitute inner parts to actually make the board yours. This can be a generosity that almost all different corporations and types regularly neglect to supply, as a substitute of leaving you to determine it out by yourself and trawl by means of Reddit and different such on-line boards for recommendation. They’ve even made a complete tutorial video for these of you preferring a visible reference.
The open-to-upgrades GMMK Professional has its limitations, nonetheless, because it’s solely obtainable within the 75% format, so these of you who really feel the necessity for Numpad must go for both the GMMK 1 or GMMK 2. Talking of which, let’s transfer on to the newest and best of Superb’ mechanical keyboard vary, the GMMK 2.
Superb GMMK 2
Right here we’re of us, the lately launched GMMK 2. Considered by Superb no less than, because the fruits of the qualities from each the unique GMMK 1 and the GMMK Professional. The value of $119.99 could have you ever tempted to select it up immediately, particularly given the aforementioned reward, nonetheless, there are some things to think about. First up is the pre-configured choice that you simply get for that value is nowhere close to nearly as good because the GMMK 2. In case your finances permits for it, we’d advocate some customization, fortunately the net configurator makes this straightforward, too straightforward in actual fact, however we’ll get to that.
It’s price rapidly noting right here, that the GMMK 2 is accessible barebones just like the GMMK Professional for $79.99, so if you wish to go full DIY you’re in luck as you gained’t be paying for switches and caps simply to exchange them as quickly as you unbox it. For these of you who don’t wish to assemble the GMMK 2 from scratch, that is the place it begins to get costly. Including lubed wonderful Panda switches and their most cost-effective keycaps already places the worth to $199.96. Sadly, these caps are ABS so that you’ll wish to change them out for one thing higher. So, once more, the worth continues to climb.
Including extra aesthetic keycap colorways can add one other $50-$100, relying on the particular alternative, a type of fashionable coiled cables provides one other $50, and so forth and forth. Now you see why we stated that the net configurator is simply too straightforward, you can also make the overall far over $400 should you’re not cautious. This isn’t to say that the GMMK 2 is dangerous, however the pricing is could possibly be described as a bit of deceptive on account of how rapidly it may well climb from the addition of ostensibly inconsequential upgrades.
Extra constructive features of the GMMK 2 embody its availability in each full-size and 65% layouts and the unusually beneficiant availability of German, Spanish, and Nordic legends on the keycaps at no further price. We will solely hope different corporations observe swimsuit to increase the at the moment American-focussed market to be a bit of extra all-encompassing.
Why aren’t Superb keyboard wi-fi?
Sadly, we don’t have a great reply for that as of but, and neither does wonderful, no less than in accordance with their posts on Reddit. In the meanwhile, you might be caught with good ole’ USB-C. Nevertheless, given the ever-decreasing latency in relation to each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. We don’t count on that it’s going to take too lengthy for Superb to chop the wire, however they’ll most likely should supply appropriate wi-fi receivers and put some growth time into updating the Superb core software program to account for each wired and wi-fi keyboards.
Superb Equipment
As you may need seen this far into the article, Superb doesn’t simply promote keyboards, they promote something and all the things surrounding keyboards too. This ranges from easy issues like wrist relaxation and fancy cables to inner keyboard parts. Let’s take a bit of take a look at what’s on provide in relation to Superb keyboard equipment.
Superb mechanical switches
You knew we needed to begin right here, what with the drama main as much as the discharge of the Superb panda switches, initially generally known as wonderful holy pandas. This drama was centered round problems with trademarking and precise manufacturing of the fantastic panda switches, and the suspicious similarity to the unique Drop holy panda switches. It’s a sophisticated story fraught with intrigue, apologies, and indignant Redditors. We’d advocate that you simply watch JTTR’s tear down and evaluation of the Superb pandas. He will get extra in-depth in regards to the controversy than we now have time for, and it’s additionally a really complete evaluation of the Panda change itself.
The one different Superb branded change on provide is the Superb lynx key change. Being linear it lacks any textile bump on the actuation level and, like most linear switches, it requires much less drive to actuate than tactile equivalents, particularly 7g lower than the Panda. Weirdly sufficient, Superb is but to provide a clicky change. This may be defined by the Cherry MX Blue-style ‘click on’ sound falling out of favor within the eyes of many keyboard fanatics, nonetheless, sufficient proponents stay so we count on Superb to take a chunk of the clicky market ultimately.
Superb Panda vs Superb Lynx
Simply to be as all through as doable, right here’s a fast comparability between each Superb switches, with specs included.
Superb Panda change specs
Model: Tactile change
Actuation drive: 67g
Mount: Plate mount (3-pin)
Housing: White, Opaque
Superb Lynx change specs
Model: Linear change
Actuation drive: 60g
Mount: Plate mount (5-pin)
Housing: Blue, Opaque
If neither of the Superb switches floats your boat, additionally they promote Kailh and Gateron switches in all of their varied flavors. Fortunately, the GMMK, GMMK 2, and GMMK Professional are all suitable with 3 or 5-pin Cherry MX fashion switches, so except you’re trying very far afield, any regular change can be absolutely suitable, no matter which board you go for.
Superb keycaps
We touched on this earlier, however it deserves some enlargement right here as Superb produce a reasonably big range of keycaps in various colours and kinds, together with pudding keycaps. Whereas the PBT vs ABS argument has been gained in favor of PBT keycaps for fairly a while now, Superb nonetheless provide a few of their keycaps in ABS for many who want a extra reasonably priced improve.
Should you’re on the lookout for a visible improve, Superb additionally produces their PBT keycaps in varied colorways, starting from vaporwave-style pink and purple to a military-inspired moss-green. Alternatively, should you’re on the lookout for a really premium-looking set of caps, you may like to think about their ‘celestial’ sequence of keycap units, that are distinctive as the colour gradient exists throughout particular person keycaps, as a substitute of abruptly altering from one cap to the subsequent. Unsurprisingly you’ll be paying a premium for this degree of artistry because the celestial keycaps retail for $99.99 per pack which could be tough to swallow, no matter how pretty they give the impression of being.
Sadly, should you’re a fan of RGB lighting, there aren’t lots of keycaps from wonderful which are suitable with their vivid RGB backlight, you’ll both should go for the glow-tacular aura keycaps (Aura being Superb’s model identify for his or her line of pudding keycaps) or the lesser high quality ABS keycaps. They’re double-shot ABS, however ABS is ABS, no matter what number of instances it’s been shot
Superb modding instruments
Given the open nature of their keyboards, it comes as no shock that Superb presents a full complement of modding instruments that can assist you get essentially the most out of the customized mechanical keyboard expertise. This ranges from the mundane and commonplace honest like a key change and keycap puller, and screw-in stabilizers, to the extra enthusiast-level stuff like lube, change openers, and fully-featured lubing stations.
Associated Superb pages
Should you’re curious, we’ve lined Superb just a few instances earlier than, so listed below are some pages that may curiosity you.
Superb keyboards: Remaining phrase
Hopefully, now you might have been given a complete schooling in regards to the GMMK 1, GMMK 2, and GMMK Professional in regards to the variations and professionals/cons relating to every one. Moreover, we’ve lined Superb’ vary of equipment surrounding their keyboards, just like the modding instruments and keycaps.
We’ve additionally lined the 2 forms of switches manufactured by Superb, the Lynx and Panda. Their differing and particular traits, and which one it’s best to go for. The overall rule of thumb is linear for gaming and tactile for common use. Nevertheless, on condition that most individuals gained’t have a number of keyboards with differing switches, we advocate the Pandas, as tactile switches work for gaming along with regular use, however the reverse is much less true.
So, bear all this in thoughts once you take a spin over to the official Superb web site, and also you may simply discover the subsequent keyboard improve you’ve been wanting.
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