Once is not common, we don’t test the latest model from Corsair or Logitech. We do not offer you an article on a powerful keyboard, but in front of the door of many wallets. The KM-G16 is offered for less than 40 dollars, which it has to equip without breaking the bank … if the product is of course of quality!
Aukey is a Chinese company that you may not be familiar with, but which is particularly well known by retailers like AliExpress or Amazon. It is usually characterized by relatively simple products that neglect the most original features, but the main quality is price. The KM-G16 is even cheaper than its predecessors KM-G6 and KM-G12 / G14.
Sober and elegant design, but a little cheap
Coming out of the box that KM-G16 logically mine doesn’t pay off. Logically, Aukey couldn’t go for something very original in order to keep prices within limits, but the design of his keyboard seems to be clean. The product is completely black and unless it comes down to being based on a metallic structure like that found on more ambitious models, the whole thing seems relatively reliable and less flexible than other low-cost products. Therefore, despite its relative finesse, the keyboard cannot be rotated by holding it by the ends.
We talked about how thin it is that the GM-16 is a pretty compact full-width keyboard. So we measured it less than 44 inches long and a little more than 12 inches wide. The chassis slightly surpasses the buttons to frame them and so we cannot speak of a frameless structure, but the general design remains quite modern. The keys do not appear to be stuck in the base of the keyboard, as can be the case with other models. Keys, which are therefore 105 in number in an AZERTY configuration, are all standard.
It should be noted that these keys are easy to remove, but the process shouldn’t be repeated very often: their attachment seems fragile, the plastics aren’t necessarily very strong, but nothing really unusual about a product at this price point. Besides, there’s not much to say about the features GM-16 are limits. There is no question of whether there is a wireless or a USB pass-through. The USB cable has a standard length (1.8 m) but is not detachable and not in the least flexible like these cables signed by Razer.
Understandably, Aukey didn’t complain about the note that a palm rest was handing out with his keyboard. Even more annoying, however, is that when we turn the GM-16 around, we find that the feet are everything that is simpler: This means that only one incline level is possible. Fortunately, there’s nothing to be said about the stability of it all and the efficiency of the pads that keep the keyboard from moving during the toughest parts, but the 760 grams weight didn’t necessarily play a role in its maintenance.
Responsive, but terribly loud switches
Bitter parts that make us talk about one of the rare advanced features of this keyboard. Aukey has in fact integrated a lock on certain keys. Pressing the FN key and the Windows key will activate this lock, which will allow you to disable the Windows keys and avoid certain inconveniences during the game. Another good point: Aukey uses shooters that, while inexpensive, are quite effective overall: they’re Chinese models designed by one of Cherry’s most famous clones, Outemu.
Aukey opted for the manufacturer’s blue models. We don’t know anymore about the activation / total strokes but the force required to activate the switch is 60g which seems quite high and shows the usage. That said, during gameplay this is not a particular problem … even if you shouldn’t expect the same level of reactivity as for example a Corsair K65 RGB Mini, but the KM-16 is not 1 for a. Such switches are acceptable to the majority of gamers as long as they can withstand the noise.
Indeed, and this is undoubtedly the greatest flaw of this product, for which we can forgive many deviations: it is terribly healthy. Basically, so-called clicky switches are used, which can therefore be heard at the slightest pressure. What is even more annoying is that the entire structure of the KM-G16 acts as a resonance box. In addition to successive clicks on each activation, an echo must be used, which increases the discomfort. The player can live with it, it becomes more difficult for those around him.
Aukey reports full anti-ghosting, which we find, but doesn’t mention key rollover: it’s limited to 12 keys, which is enough for 99.9% of players. Let’s finish with a word about the backlight: it’s in 6 colors with one color – solid – per line of the keyboard. Rare effects are available and everything is controlled with keyboard shortcuts. We regret that the result is not more pleasant, especially for serious use: the multicolored effect is not in the best taste and the secondary characters are less well lit and some LEDs seem a little dim.
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SMALL PUNCHY phrase that sums it all up in capital letters As you can imagine, we don’t have the same expectations for a keyboard under 40 dollars as we do for a model with 70, 100 or even 120 dollars, as we are seeing more and more with models for gamers. However, there are players who cannot / do not want to wager that much money … The GM-16 is theirs, but the results are actually more contrasting. |
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