Lighting and Performance

The GamaKay TK75HE supports N-key rollover USB as well as 2.4 GHz out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. It defaults to 6KRO with Bluetooth as expected. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and seen above are all the functions with dedicated keys on the base layer. This keyboard has 81 keys and gives you most of the functionality of a TKL keyboard in a smaller footprint. As usual, R. Win is replaced by the Fn key which is used for the Fn layer itself.


To explain why the Fn key is so important, here is a look at the Fn layer. This is accessible by simply holding the Fn key, and we see how the Fn layer has different pre-programmed functions depending on whether you use Windows or macOS. You get back the missing functions from a TKL keyboard in addition to some quality of life improvements with shortcuts to some programs, media playback and volume control, changing the key travel modes as seen in the software etc. The Fn key also helps with on-the-fly lighting controls too, so you can get away with not needing the software for a lot of commonly used functions.


Seen above are some of the available lighting effects accessible via both onboard controls and software, with full 16.8 M RGB per-key lighting on offer. The keycaps being opaque do mean there is no backlighting on offer at all, and the LEDs just shine around the keycaps for accent lighting. As such, there's not much point in testing for light bleed here, but color fidelity was fairly good given the LEDs set to white presented an accurate color. The white colors make for a brighter light show than if the keyboard was black but overall I'd say this is not a keyboard for those who want a keyboard with lots of strong RGB lighting, especially as alternative options these days come with clear keycaps or even a clear case for plenty of side and under lighting too.

As with the GamaKay LK75, both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth worked without issues. The 2.4 GHz dongle was already paired to the keyboard out of the box and I had a similar typing experience with it as wired itself for my usual needs. Battery life is ~10 hours with the LEDs on in this mode which increases to ~15 hours with Bluetooth. Keep the default sleep settings that turn off the LEDs and then the keyboard after certain periods of inactivity to now have the keyboard last weeks of regular use without the LEDs on. Given the opaque legends here that's mostly what I did outside deliberately leaving the LEDs on to verify the battery life. Suffice to say that I only had to charge the keyboard twice, and I am still on the second use cycle with the LEDs off. The slight amount of space savings over a TKL-size keyboard form factor also has a few inherent ergonomic benefits in that your fingers do not have to travel as much to hit the required keys, and you can also have the mouse placed closer to the keyboard to have your arms be in line with your shoulder width. Gamers will also benefit from more real estate to move the mouse around, although you should be seriously considering a much smaller keyboard at that point.

Speaking of which, magnetic switches have quickly become all the rage for gaming thanks to the inherent advantages they pose. For one, a well-calibrated sensor can detect actuation instantly, and faster than mechanical switches—whether you will perceive that difference is a different matter altogether. Second, since the sensor can detect the stem moving up and down very precisely, you can use the extent of travel to allow for various other functions. While the TK75HE does not allow analog control, you can get something close enough for most people with the dynamic keystroke system. It allows you to set as many as four different keystrokes at various travel points of a single switch. I can see it being more useful as a quick macro than for more complex instructions though. I also liked the travel modes allowing you to have a "speed" switch if you so desire, and this helps customize the keyboard depending on if you type with light or heavy fingers. It's not easy in practice to get used to these options, and you will likely end up making more errors than you may have originally thought too. Give yourself some time, be it days or even weeks, and start off simple to get used to the switches first. The range of 0.1 to 3.7 mm is also quite large for these switches, with a 0.1 mm precision level to choose from.


I mentioned before how the GamaKay TK75HE comes with two first-party switch options, but unfortunately there is very little information available about the GamaKay Mercury magnetic switch. It's not the same as the GamaKay Mercury mechanical switch, thus adding to the confusion, which is a good thing since the latter bottoms out at 3.30 mm vs. the full 4.0 mm here to take advantage of the larger control range mentioned above. We do know this is a linear switch and reasonably quiet at that, as opposed to the far quieter GamaKay Phoenix magnetic switch which gets an article to itself. The Mercury switch should be very similar in the main specifications though, be it the default actuation set to a 2.0 mm travel distance which in turn necessitates 45 gf force. I believe the switch also will require a minimum of 40 gf to get going, and bottoms out closer to 60 gf. As such, I do wish this was a heavier switch to allow finer control over the magnetic Hall effect. This is also why I was saying why the dynamic keystroke system is best used as a macro of functions in series, as opposed to you being able to choose between them. It's a very smooth switch due to its inherent design and the lubed walls, and the keyboard as a whole sounds quite decent too. The exception here are the stabilizers which feel and sound not only poor, but also inconsistent. I can't tell if it's just mediocre parts, the lack of decent lubing, or the faux gasket mount to blame here. Ultimately, this wasn't offering me a compelling typing experience compared to what I can get for the money. But the vast majority of users will likely be left more than content. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches.