Verdict
It may be astoundingly heavy on its RGB flare , but the Roccat Vulcan II keyboard is still hard to recommend to most at this price point . No wireless connectivity or USB hub feels like a step backward at £ 150 , and the smooth keys , while nice and tight , pick out form over function .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Roccat Vulcan II is here to embellish your desk with bag of RGB across a full - size of it set of keys . But , does it fork out good value for money at its high price ?
Packing either Linear Red or Tactile Brown Titan II replacement – not even under the hood – this control gist go all - in when it come to the power of lighting , allowing for princely semblance Wave to suit your setup as well as achieving near - imperceivable grade of latent period .
It ’s not a wireless keyboard , though . Roccat does offer the same tech in a small package for those who demand portability . rather , you get a ready to hand wrist ease , a control telephone dial and medium keys for your music , and more room to expose those enthusiastic lighting dream you ’re always dream up .
Design
The full - fat Vulcan II keyboard comes in either black or white nip to accommodate your dark den or burnished and cosy nook . Rather than sink below the chassis , the low deck set the Titan II switches on full display . The reason ? RGB flair that ’s anything but subtle . In a good style .
The transparent switch intend each RGB head underneath shines through without impediment . If you demand bright , in - your - cheek lighting to suit your setup , you ’re set . And if you need it in a modest chassis ingredient , Roccat still has you covered with the residuum of the Vulcan lineup .
The whole package of the Roccat Vulcan II is low - visibility . Its lean triangular design houses full - sizing switches topped with miserable - profile keycaps to avoid occluding the signature lighting flare . The metal deck of cards prevent flex to a minimum . Paired with the low actuation tip of the mechanical switches , you ’re unlikely to feel it shifting under your mean strokes .
Even the carpus rest is surprisingly flat , scarcely lift your manus at all , but sitting at a low enough slant to feast seamlessly into the cosmetic surgery of the board itself . Your finger are graciously positioned just luxuriously enough to remain well-off . It is n’t magnetic like the Corsair K70 Core , but the snap - in plastic is far sturdier than some execution we ’ve seen .
If you call for a small more lift , two - stagecoach feet can be found on the underside and palpate surprisingly solid . Despite the lengthy cable port bulge from the centre of the display panel , there ’s no house of a USB hub on this one , which is a real pity at this cost . At least there ’s a tactual loudness dial in the top - good niche with click - to - mute functionality and some lightly clicky media keys .
Improvements could be made to the promotion experience from a sustainability perspective . Both the keyboard and the wrist rest are individually packaged into fictile arm , the padding foam could just as easily be some close down composition board , and the thin plastic peel around each border of the control panel is all unnecessary ,
Performance
mechanically skillful switches stand for there ’s virtually no sentence between a key actuating and your PC recognising your intent . input signal meanwhile is near - imperceivable , with a wired connexion guaranteeing it if you ’re going pro .
With switches like these , the stimulant constriction will likely be in your monitor . If that ’s a concern , you might want to look into the bestgaming monitorsor something likeNvidia Reflexto check that you ’re getting everything you’re able to out of your frame-up .
On a 100Hz 1440p IPS jury like mine , there ’s piddling chance of discover stimulation lag here . In - game actions are instant , and typewrite out this review feels incredibly smooth . My fingers glide along the keys and the characters appear on - screen immediately .
The TITAN II Linear Red switches my review social unit shipped with are as tranquil as they add up . The comparatively poor travel distance intend you ’ll bottom out with even the calorie-free touch , and the return to neutral has an audible clap as it snaps back . There ’s no moistening going on as far as I can observe , yet there ’s no metal ping to speak of unlike the smaller Logitech thousand Pro or the full - sizeDas Keyboard 6 Professional .
But do these perks intend the Roccat Vulcan II is a perfect keyboard ? No . There ’s personal preference at play . The space between each paint can be a snatch much , and their unruffled coating can turn up tricky if you type at stop number and are prone to oleaginous fingerprints .
In a roughshod braid of fate , these are n’t the same lightning - firm optical switches found in the smaller , cheaper Roccat Vulkan II Mini Air – which is wireless to boot . Most are unlikely to notice the remainder , but it ’s interesting to take down .
Like its smaller sibling , though , the keycaps of the Roccat Vulcan II are easy trade out . Pick up low - visibility caps to keep the board ’s signature RGB look , and you could append more grip around the WASD cluster or grab ergonomic Key that curve inward like on theKeychron Q1 Max .
One affair that ca n’t be changed to suit is the replacement actuation stop . This can be a problem given the myopic , snappy locomotion of lightning - libertine optical permutation can invite lot of accidental actuations .
Currently uncommitted through analogue switches on theRazer Huntsman V2 Analog , it would have been grand to see Roccat bring some bod of adjustable actuation here . If you repose your digit on the key while in concealing and do n’t want to risk giving away your position , it ’s something to consider .
Software and lighting
Lighting being the major marketing point of the Roccat Vulcan II , downloading the positively retro - see Roccat Swarm computer software will likely be your first larboard of call when plugging this one in . It wo n’t prompt a download on its own . You ’ll have to go searching .
Unlike with theRoccat Vulcan II Mini Air , the software had no problem let me tweak it to high heaven . The LEDs can be configured on a per - headstone basis , and there are wad of preset lighting formula to take from if you do n’t have the meter or attention span to tailor each to your liking .
Deeper in there , you ’ll ascertain more or less everything you could want or expect from a keyboard form stand . You ’re free to remap and macro each key , set layer , and alter repeat input delays .
There ’s nothing out of the ordinary here , but also nothing special . It ’s a working software experience that could merely use a lick of paint .
Roccat ’s own AIMO lighting ecosystem is n’t as well connected as Razer ’s Chroma or Corsair ’s iCue solution . You wo n’t be couple competing products together to make a complex array of reactive lighting here . But if you just need a keyboard with as much lighting on show as potential , you ’ll bump it here .
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Should you buy it?
In an ultra - competitive gaming keyboard grocery , the Roccat Vulcan II stands out with its uncompromised approaching to RGB ignition . give way for that pastel look ? This one shine .
The Roccat Vulcan II feels fantastic to use , but its tall , smooth , and slippy tonality stockpile too much jeopardy of inadvertent propulsion . If you ’re hyper - competitive , it creates a enigma : adapt or face an avoidable defeat .
Final Thoughts
The Roccat Vulcan II is far from staring . The included carpus remainder is still , hard , and does n’t utilise a safe magnetized grasp like theCorsair K70 Core . It also miss the plush cushioning and RGB trim of theRazer Huntsman Elite . Being wired only and not even including a passthrough USB port feels disappointing at this price range as well .
It ’s just hard not to descend for the singular RGB flair . It ’s also lightning fast where it counts – just consider opting for the safe Brown switches if you ’re big on Valorant or CSGO . The excess excrescence of each press will keep your bacon .
Still , at £ 150 , the Roccat Vulcan II is n’t the good deal right now . It ’s brilliant if you require to bathe your gaming corner with glorious colour , but it ’s heavy to ignore the clunky software package and lack of wider support outside of the Roccat ecosystem . If ignition is n’t a big deal for you , save yourself £ 30 and snap up the classicLogitech G613instead , or fit out thebest gaming keyboardsaround if there ’s more wriggle room in your budget .
Trusted Score
How we test
We use every keyboard we test for at least a week . During that sentence , we ’ll check it for ease of use and put it through its paces across games and typical personal computer use .
We also check each keyboard ’s package to see how easy it is to customise and set
FAQs
No , there ’s no special USB port uncommitted here .
There ’s no 2.4Ghz or Bluetooth wireless bread and butter on offering with the Roccat Vulcan II .
The mass dial has a tactile feel as it moves between small stages .
Full Specs
