Verdict
The Gravastar Mercury K1 Pro is certainly a unique mechanical keyboard by way of looks , but also impresses with its responsive switches , durable build and convenient wireless connectivity . Its software is quite clunky against key rivals , though .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Gravastar Mercury K1 Pro is one of the most spectacular mechanical keyboard I ’ve lay my eyes on in a long time .
If you ’ve been after a potent , insurance premium keyboard that screams that it ’s a airscrew from a sci - fi film , I do n’t think there are many other choice that fit the bill so well . It also comes with dual wireless connectivity , an aluminum admixture frame and some elongate mechanical switches in partnership with Kailh .
Priced at £ 139 / $ 179.95 , it is one of the dearer choice out there , and is competing against some late favourites such as theLemokey P1 ProandDrop CSTM80for the impost keyboard crown .
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I ’ve been running the Mercury K1 Pro through its pace for the last two weeks or so to see if it can take the treetop as one of thebest mechanically skillful keyboardsI’ve tested . get ’s take a closer feel .
Design
I opine it ’s fair to say that there is only one word primed to describe the tone of the Mercury K1 Pro – silly . Depending on your perspective , it ’s either ridiculous in a zany , cool sort of way , or in an ‘ oh pricey god , my eye ! ’ kind of manner .
For me , it ’s the former . It ’s easily one of the most unique keyboard I ’ve wield over the age , and I ’ve hear a lot in my metre . It comes with this diabolical sci - fi type tone to it that would n’t seem out of place in a Terminator film , or from Men In Black .
You get a range of slue channel across its outer edges , as well as these weird spider leg on the recession that move as its feet for raise typing Angle – if you ’re not a fan of spider , or the world-wide look of them at least , you might not wish this . I do , though . Set phasers to stun for the time being .
The structure here is also vastly tough , with the Mercury K1 Pro tipping the scale leaf at 1.13 kilo and being preponderantly an aluminium alloy font . This means there ’s no pack of cards flex at all , and this keyboard is quite viable for habit as a space - age weapon system .
It has all the making of a sublime enthusiast - grade keyboard if you look beyond the factious design , such as a stocky but operative 75 % layout that throw you a function quarrel , individual pillar nav cluster pointer keys . What ’s more , you also get ‘ pud ’ style PBT keycaps with a textured and long-wearing finish on top , as well as translucent hoary edges for better light dispersion .
The top right corner house a metallic book rocker and silent button , while there is also a small show above the right pointer key that displays the Gravastar logo in varying colours . The screen ca n’t be programmed to show anything else , unfortunately .
The Mercury K1 Pro ’s interface around the back is also dewy-eyed , with two selector switches for operating system ( Windows or macOS ) and connectivity method ( 2.4GHz or Bluetooth ) , while the underside is home to a expansion slot for store the USB - A wireless receiving system .
Performance
at bottom , the Mercury K1 Pro comes with co - branded switches between Gravastar , the keyboard ’s maker , and Kailh , get laid as one of the more longstanding MX clone manufacturing business of the last few years .
They are 45 g lubricate linear switches with a slightly shorter change of location of 3.5 mm , complete with a taller 1.2 mm propulsion point to allow for snapper comment for typing and gambling . In some instances where I ’ve test Kailh electrical switch in the yesteryear , they ’ve been discrepant in their keypress , hampering the overall typing experience .
It seems they ’ve learnt lesson from the past tense with these replacement as they ’re more ordered than previous Kailh options , bestow to a satisfying feel for a set of linears . With that higher propulsion point and shorter change of location , they can apparently be used for gaming . The Mercury K1 Pro felt antiphonal here too , even if it is n’t packed full with all the high polling charge per unit , Radclyffe Hall effect and rapid trigger thingamabob we ’ve add up to expect from likewise - priced premium gaming option .
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The Mercury K1 Pro is hot - swappable if you do n’t desire these Kailh linears inside , and is compatible with both 3 and 5 - pin maxwell style option for maximum gismo . acoustic with those nonremittal transposition in are also excellent , with a deep sound and no sheath rale or ping thanks to a sight of froth and dampening inside .
Connectivity is do by either with 2.4GHz orBluetooth wirelessly , with simple sexual union by have got down the Fn and 1 , 2 , or 3 keys depending on the channel you wish to select . I had no issues using the Mercury K1 Pro with either my main Windows play PC or MacBook Pro over a duet of hebdomad of testing . It can also work by USB - C for wire exercise and charging
Gravastar also says the Mercury K1 Pro should be good for up to 470 60 minutes on a individual charge , depending on RGB ignition options , of trend . That ’s some grand survival , and mean you ’ll be able-bodied to get through a issue of a duo of month at the most before require to excite this table back up .
Software and Lighting
owe to its combination of its clever ‘ pudding ’ style keycaps and underglow , the Mercury K1 Pro ’s lighting is immensely vivid . It ’s white by default , and has virtually gratis rein to glint through the keycaps and around the bottom of the keyboard . This contrasts a lot of its rival , whose solid keycaps leave lighting to move more of an underglow as contradict to like Blackpool illumination .
I ’m a little less enthusiastic about the keyboard ’s software , though . It ’s quite busy and ungainly against more establish options , and allows for basic contour of the Mercury K1 Pro ’s lighting , as well as the pick for programming macro instruction . The inflammation presets are like to those found on cheaper keyboard , but they do the job if you desire showy lights , I suppose .
It ’s a shame this keyboard does n’t appear to be compatible with either QMK or VIA , which is pretty much a apprehension - all option for hefty software and firmware customisation for tidy sum of mechanically skillful keyboard , include the Mercury K1 Pro ’s key competitor .
Should you buy it?
The sci - fi design of the Mercury K1 Pro is unlike any other keyboard I ’ve seen or used , and if you need a unequalled and ridiculous excogitation to get people sing , this is well worth a look .
The Gravastar Mechanical software is one of this keyboard ’s only low points , with a clumsy and introductory user interface . For more polish and feature , option from more - establish rivals will be better . ;
Final Thoughts
For instance , theLemokey P1 Profeatures full support for Keychron ’s web - ground configurator and VIA software package for easier scheduling and configuration , while also offering a like feature set at a slightly tawdry damage .
However , Gravastar ’s option certainly takes the biscuit for some of the daft and most eye - catching looks at its price point , and earns a testimonial for push some aesthetic boundaries in a package that ’s otherwise a bully overall keyboard . For more option , check out our leaning of thebest mechanical keyboardswe’ve screen .
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How we test
We practice every keyboard we try out for at least a week . During that fourth dimension , we ’ll check out it for ease of use and put it through its paces by playing a variety of different genres , let in FPS , scheme and MOBAs .
We also check each keyboard ’s software program to see how easy it is to customise and set up up .
FAQs
The Gravastar Mercury K1 Pro comes with a 75 % layout , giving you most of the welfare of a TKL layout in a more or less smaller chassis .
Full Specs
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