Software

With all functionality hardware based, there are no software drivers for the G.SKILL KM360. As such, I have chosen to combine this section with the performance section below.

Performance

We get full N-key rollover USB with the G.SKILL KM360, as tested successfully with Aqua's test. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys, and as is usually the case with keyboards these days, the right Win key is replaced by an Fn key.


The KM360 is a fairly basic keyboard in terms of functionality, and the only pre-programmed functionality is for the white backlighting. Even so, we get static backlighting only with five brightness steps (0/25/50/75/100%) and off, and seen above is the keyboard all lit up in the stock configuration. All legends are lit fairly well, and uniformly given their position relative to the LED underneath—through the gaps between keycaps, the aluminium plate also reflects back some of the light.


Here, we see the two G.SKILL Crystal Crown keycap sets installed and in the same white static lighting, with the top LED placement on the KM360 resulting in some uneven lighting on the ring cutout in the black keycap set. The white set does not even get this option since it is missing the ring cutout, and both sets exhibit a much stronger lighting effect through and around the keycaps. One thing of note is that with LEDs mounted above the switch, the lighting will be reflected onto the keycap above, which can be distracting and makes it seem as though there are multiple, competing light sources. With RGB SMD LEDs that are underneath switches, this should not be the case.


To better illustrate the difference between these keycap sets and the stock keycaps on the G.SKILL KM360, I installed all three on the keyboard as seen above, with the white keycaps between to further differentiate the two black sets. It is clear—nay, Crystal clear—that the replacement keycaps allow for a much higher perceived brightness with the same LEDs owing to the larger amount of light passing through. This also means that there is minimal light diffusion—as seen above, this translates into harsher lighting and visibility of discrete light sources on such keyboards. On RGB keyboards, there will be the added issue of increased light bleed and color mixing, so do be aware of this.

That's it as far as any lighting goes, and there isn't much else. Using the KM360 is otherwise as simple as it gets with just a plug-and-play connection on Windows (7–10 are natively supported), and the TKL form factor in this petite chassis does make for a comfortable typing solution for those on a tight space budget. The vast majority of end users will be satisfied with the TKL form factor, but I did find myself missing some keyboard shortcuts here. I could add some using generic key-mapping solutions, but those would then not be unique to the KM360.


The G.SKILL KM360 uses the venerable MX Red all the way down to the older mold that has the opaque housing on this non-RGB model. This switch is rated at 2.0 mm actuation with 45 cN and 4.00 mm total travel, and it has quickly become the most popular mechanical switch in use today, which can be attributed at least partially to the many marketed "gaming keyboards" using linear instead of tactile or clicky mechanical switches. Actuation and peak forces were well within rated values based on my testing of twenty random switches with a tension gauge. Typing on this sample also did not feel very different from others using the newer design and/or RGB variant, but I do wish some lube would have been put on the stabilizers.



As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above two example sound clips of me typing on the G.SKILL KM360 keyboard sample at ~100 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX Red and the stock keycaps, and then with one set of the Crystal Crown keycaps. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out more often than not, especially with the relatively lighter MX Red switch keyboard, and you can hear the downstroke ping off the aluminium plate. Both replacement keycap sets sounded identical, and both were also louder than the stock keycaps in that the acrylic did not dampen the typing sound and bottoming-out pings as well, while also resulting in a tinnier sound in person—not necessarily uncomfortable, it's not my favorite to listen to!