Are these the keys to a photo editor’s heart?
One of the latest trends in premium keyboard design is the inclusion of a tiny screen somewhere on the frame, used to display anything from basic information like a clock, to a specialized set of icons showing the keyboard’s status. Among this screen-adorned keyboard set is the Gamakay LK75, a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard with an LCD readout that doubles as a rotary knob, as well as a unique set of key legends with shortcuts for photo editing software. At $129.99, the LK75 is at the cheaper end of this growing market segment. It does makes some concessions in the name of price, but they don’t limit the screen’s functionality. The Asus ROG Azoth is still our Editors’ Choice pick for keyboards with built-in displays, but the LK75 could be worth the attention of digital photo editors in particular.The Design: More Than Meets the Eye
The Gamakay LK75 is slightly larger than the average TKL keyboard. (TKL refers to boards that don’t have a dedicated number pad on the right-hand side.) It measures 1.9 by 13.8 by 5.6 inches, bigger than the all-metal-framed OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro. Although the frame on the LK75 is plastic, the chassis still has considerable heft thanks to a metal backplate on the bottom of the keyboard, emblazoned with the Gamakay logo.
Along with the keyboard, the box includes four extra accent keycaps to replace any keys on the board for added flair, a combo keycap/switch puller, and a rubberized USB-C-to-USB-A cable for charging and connecting the keyboard. The USB dongle for connecting the keyboard via 2.4GHz wireless is stored at the top of the keyboard in a compartment with a magnet to hold it in place. Many other keyboard manufacturers opt to hide the dongle below the keyboard or off the top edge, which requires flipping the keyboard to access. A more easily accessible dongle could help anyone who needs to move the keyboard to different stations.
Our review unit comes equipped with Gamakay Pegasus switches, which are of the tactile, silent variety. Typing is indeed silent, a testament to the key switch design. If you aren’t a fan of tactile switches, the company offers the LK75 with any option of key switch the company makes, such as the Phoenix switch, which is linear and offers no resistance while typing. Hot-swapping is also an option, so you can pull the switches off the board and replace them yourself with any compatible aftermarket switches.
The additional weight of the backplate adds a considerable amount of stability to the keyboard, and the angled feet offer an additional two typing angles from a strictly flat orientation. Although stable, the plastic frame has considerable flex to it and lacks the rigidity we expect from a premium keyboard manufacturer.
A simple typing test on Monkeytype gave an average of 52 words per minute with 98% accuracy. Your experience may vary, but this score didn’t stray too far from my usual daily average.
