When ADATA asked me if I would be interested in checking out their new keyboard, I jumped at the opportunity to add in another brand to my review portfolio, especially given how I tend to appreciate their offerings in the memory module sector as well. I was aware that they had the XPG brand, and indeed had some keyboards already before this, but this appeared to be a deliberate effort to raise aware of the product around the globe; that is, if all the other recent reviews are anything to go by.

The XPG Summoner checks a lot of things off the typical gaming keyboard list, be it the now expected RGB backlighting, option of a gaming-designed mechanical switch in the form of the Cherry MX Speed (Silver), among others, aluminium frame with replacement keycaps for WASD, or the arrow keys, and some more meaningful features for gaming, including onboard profiles, onboard macro recording, and a gaming mode. I also appreciate the USB pass-through even though it is USB 2.0. Unfortunately, none of these features are unique to XPG, and the use of the same old style of thin ABS keycaps with laser etched legends means that these will be among the first things you will notice, while the rest of the keyboard still looks and performs fine.

It may seem harsh, but there are not a lot of distinctive things about the XPG Summoner that make it stand out in this extremely crowded market. This by itself would not be a bad thing, but at $130–$140, it gets lost even more. I can think of at least five keyboards that are very similar which have launched in the past 2–3 years, and the XPG Summoner has to do more to get eyes on it, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong as this is still a good keyboard, just not one I can wholeheartedly recommend at this price when there are other options available for less.