Verdict
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 is a unique play keyboard at a high toll . Its dual - feeling switches are an interesting proposition , although offer a middling typewriting experience . This is a well - build up keyboard with some thoughtful feeling , although its computer software only offer up basic customisation .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 is perhaps one of the more alone keyboard I ’ve tested in recent times , offering the power of two key - permutation types in one keyboard with the flick of a telephone dial .
It ’s quite expensive at £ 169.99/$199.99 , but offers a more interesting choice for those wanting something different against similarly - priced competition , including the excellentAsus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wirelessand the slenderly older , but still fantastic , SteelSeries Apex Pro .
Whether this unique feature is enough to bear on the Acer Aethon 700 to the top of our listing of thebest play keyboardswe’ve essay is another matter entirely . I ’ve been testing it to find out .
Design
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 reminds me of the oldMadCatz Strike 4I looked at nearly five years ago , with an angulate , undefendable chassis and its metal top collection plate . This is a keyboard that looks older than it is , although not so much that it feels dated .
It ’s also tough with that top plate increasing rigidity , and there is n’t any deck of cards flex to speak of either . The open housing is n’t the best for dust and scandal ingress , however , and the Aethon 700 can invite a lot of rubble around the side and top of its chassis , even if you keep it wiped and clean .
There is a full complement of keys on offer with a full - size of it layout giving you all the benefit of a navigation cluster and number pad , as well as a tactile volume telephone dial in the top - correct corner . The intensity telephone dial is the gentle part of the telephone dial , while the glossy silver permutation is for choosing between linear- and tactile - feeling keys , which is the Aethon 700 ’s party piece . You also get a chain of mountains of junior-grade use , including for sensitive playback and volume , as well as for choosing between the keyboard ’s kindling presets .
A disappointing element of the Aethon 700 unlike its similarly priced competitor , however , are its keycaps . While Acer does n’t set their material , they palpate as if they are constitute of the cheaper and less durable acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene charge card . The doubleshot moulding is a nice touch for ensuring durable legends and consistent lighting insurance coverage underneath each keycap , but they are prone to keycap shine under extensive usage , which can leave a keyboard looking specially cheap .
The underside of the Aethon 700 is home to a brace of feet for raising the keyboard up , although it is only to a exclusive height . Other keyboard in a interchangeable cost angle bracket , including the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL , offer two angles for more alternative .
Acer ’s flagship candidate also comes with a magnetized wrist - relaxation , which is reasonably supportive and plusher than some of Razer ’s more recent offerings . It also bond firmly to the Aethon 700 . Connectivity is taken care of by a gear up USB - A over cable , keeping things wanton .
Performance
In - keeping with other late offer , the Acer Predator Aethon 700 uses ocular switch which do away with any physical mechanisms in favour of a speedier stimulus plan for gambling . However , Acer ’s flagship keyboard has a neat trick up its sleeve , which allows it to offer both linear and tactual keypresses . The large alloy dial in the top - right corner let for the Aethon 700 to shift between the two unlike feelings at will , in possibility giving you the best of both humanity – a unaccented and additive switch for gaming and a clicky , tactile switch for typewrite .
In practice , however , it is n’t quite as Acer would have you believe . The running choice feel reasonably light-headed and whipping , and was serious to utilize in fast - paced FPS claim such as CS:2 and Apex Legends , while the tactile options felt exchangeable to a tatty Kalih or Gateron Blue equivalent from a few years ago , and a switch more commonly found on keyboards that are much cheaper than this one .
The weak force does n’t sit well with a clicky switch , while the touch perception offered was short and shrill , as opposed to feel rounded . I wish what Acer has seek to do here , but it is n’t executed well .
Acer rat these optical switch to last for up to 60 million keypresses , which is in the ballpark range for more durable mechanical keyswitches . If you want to swap the keycaps out , they support the common crossbreeding - stem , MX - trend character stems , offering good compatibility . The Aethon 700 also features fullN - Key - rolloverfor press as many cay down as you wish . There is also full anti - ghosting , so there are no chancy input , either .
Elsewhere , the Acer Predator Aethon 700 does n’t spring any surprises with a reliable and convenient pumped connection that ’s secure and playact . The 6 foot cable length is also a plus , giving you a lot of cable to work with if you ’re working a long path away from your PC .
Software and Lighting
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 industrial plant with Acer ’s Predator Quartermaster software , and for a keyboard of its price , offer less customisation than I ’d have expected .
There are introductory choice including enabling and incapacitate the Win cardinal lock chamber , choosing between polling rate options , as well as remapping single key to a host of functions . It can also enter macros and screen the repetition charge per unit of a particular paint .
What seems perceptibly absent here is the ability to program any RGB lighting effect , despite Acer express that it is programmable . There are seven preset options , check within the function layer , while lighting can be turned up or down using the up and down arrow keys in compounding with the function key .
These are more akin to firing effects realise on keyboards much cheaper than this , with per - cardinal flashes based on an input , or a undulation effect of RGB across the keyboard . The inflammation itself is shining and vivacious , and outweighs the successes of the software by some magnitude .
Latest deals
Should you buy it?
The Aethon 700 ’s unique feature of pop the question linear or tactile keypresses are its party slice , and if that ’s what you ’re after , it ’s the keyboard for you .
The basic software program lets the Acer Predator Aethon 700 down vastly , and similarly priced rivals proffer much more blanket customisation .
Final Thoughts
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 is one of the more interesting gambling keyboard in its price category thanks to its unequalled two-fold - switch design . However , I ca n’t aid but finger that it ’s more of a gimmick than a genuine use , considering that the tactile half feel tawdry – the linear offering is at least light and reactive .
Elsewhere , the Aethon 700 is a well - built keyboard with a commodious full set of Florida key , as well as utile in - build function . It does without extra selection such as an OLED silver screen found on theSteelSeries Apex Pro , or even extra media control in favour of the lever tumbler for pick out between input .
Acer ’s selection is a substantial play keyboard with an interesting gimmick , but falls short of the competition elsewhere , specially at its price point . For more selection , turn back out our listing of thebest gaming keyboardswe’ve test .
Trusted Score
How we test
We use every keyboard we examine for at least a hebdomad . During that time , we ’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces by play a variety of different genres , include FPS , strategy and MOBAs .
We also check up on each keyboard ’s software package to see how easy it is to customize and countersink up .
FAQs
The Acer Predator Aethon 700 connects via a fixed USB - A line .
