Introduction

Remember when EVGA first got into peripherals? The company made a big splash with their TORQ X10 and X5 mice, which are still sold today, and complemented those with the launch of their first keyboard in the LCD display-integrated Z10. It must have sold enough to merit an RGB version, the Z10 RGB, which we took a look at last year. As of the time of this review, you can't find either Z10 variants on the EVGA website, so that LCD display experiment was short-lived. It's a good thing then that EVGA did not give up and in fact has a whole new lineup of keyboards (and mice) launching today. Today, we take a look at their new flagship keyboard, and thanks again to EVGA for sending the review samples to TechPowerUp!


The EVGA Z20 is a new ID from the company and a departure from the older Z10 RGB in nearly every way. We have a new case design, additional keys, no LCD display, a nice wrist rest, new switches, and a little something under the Left Alt key to detect user movement and wake up/put the keyboard to sleep. That's right, we have a Time-of-Flight (TOF) sensor integrated here, so EVGA continues to be wacky and willing to try out new things, which I am all for. Let's go through the EVGA Z20 in detail by examining all these features in this review beginning with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

My previous experience with retail EVGA products has me expecting more than the usual here, and packaging for the Z20 keyboard follows that trend with a fairly big and heavy box that comes inside a plastic wrap. The front is adorned with a full-sized look at the keyboard lit up, and we also see the the company and product name along with the salient features listed here. On the back and sides, more technical and marketing features are listed in multiple languages, along with other renders of the keyboard. There is a seal on either side of the box to keep the contents inside in place during transit.


Removing one of the seals and the flap there reveals the box is in two pieces, with outer and inner sleeves over a plain cardboard box. There is a double flap in the middle, which when opened shows the keyboard immediately displayed prominently inside. The keyboard is encased inside a plastic inlay shaped to fit it, held in place within more cardboard pieces on either side. The plastic inlay can be used as a dust cover down the line, so don't dismiss this as a packaging feature alone. The keyboard cable is attached, but in a compartment to the top inside another cardboard layer.


The included accessories are all found there as well, including a quick start guide with more information on the pre-programmed functions and a visual reminder about what the various things on the keyboard do. In addition to the quick start guide, EVGA includes a set of replacement keycaps in a plastic zip-lock bag. These are thin ABS plastic keycaps with laser etched legends for the W/A/S/D keys as well as E1-E5 keys, which are presumably for additional macro keys on the keyboard. There is not much to see here that we also won't see on the keyboard itself, with fairly small backlighting-compatible legends. EVGA provides a plastic ring-style keycap puller for keycap removal, which has the potential to scratch the sides of the keycaps when used but is of course better than nothing at all and still appreciated.


The last accessory here is the palm/wrist rest, which comes inside a wax cover and is one of the best-feeling wrist rests I have come across thus far. It is a lot simpler in design than the one that came with the EVGA Z10 and relies on magnets instead. There is a plush foam top with a synthetic leather surface for longevity, and lots of grip on the underside courtesy of rubber pads and lining at the top and bottom for friction against the resting surface, which also prevents scratches.


EVGA did not just send along the Z20 keyboard, but also the Z15 which launches today, another keyboard we will examine in detail at a later date, and their new XR17 mouse. Our mouse editor got the same package, although his review of the XR17 is pending still, so I will show it off briefly for those interested. Packaging is similar to the Z20, with a clean aesthetic and a plastic cover for a sneak peek at the mouse inside. We see specifications and features printed on the front, back, and sides of the packaging, with a seal on either end. A two-piece cardboard box is inside with the manual and a set of add-on weights (5x 5 g) should you want to make the XR17 heavier.


The X17 is what EVGA calls a triple-sensor mouse, and seemingly a world first at that. There are two lift-off distance detection sensors in addition to the primary Pixart 3389 optical sensor, all powered by a 32-bit ARM Cortex M33 microcontroller capable of driving the mouse at a native 8000 Hz. The mouse is 122.7 x 70.3 x 44.5 mm in size and weighs123 g without the cable. It is a looker in my opinion, but will reserve my judgment until I see the full review headed our way soon.