My first experience with the GAMDIAS brand was with the HERMES P2 RGB, which unfortunately got lost in the shuffle of extremely similar-looking keyboards. It was a good keyboard for sure, but a single look at the HERMES M5 shows how it will be much harder to forget. Take a stack of competing keyboards and this will also be among the most visually different. The white and blue colors are courtesy of a keycap set, which are also customized for the pre-programmed functions on the keyboard. This is complemented further by the adoption of "Ice Blue" backlighting, so it would be fair to say that GAMDIAS did more than just slap on a set of aftermarket keycaps.

The pre-programmed functions pertain primarily to the lighting, including six preset effects and five per-key programmable modes. On this full-size form factor, there are also four additional keys above the numpad, which help with dedicated volume control and media playback. The keyboard otherwise is a standard 104-key version on my US ANSI layout sample, and quite minimalist when it comes to packaging and included accessories. The cable is affixed, and it's otherwise a fairly basic keyboard. The minimalism extends to the case design, with a low-profile case and small bezel aluminium alloy frame providing for a lightweight typing solution.

The switches, branded under GAMDIAS itself, are one of the main reasons behind the $60 price point. Competing keyboards at this price range come from brands such as AUKEY and Monoprice in the USA, and you typically get the cheaper TTC or Outemu switches there, too. Sometimes, you may find good Gateron switches, which probably end up being the best value for money. A few, such as AUKEY, provide RGB-backlit keyboards and software control. GAMDIAS has gone the other route with the two-tone keycap set of pretty good quality, but unfortunately compromised it more than I'd like with the switches and stabilizers, at least with the GAMDIAS Blue switches here. They are fine functionality, and the $60 price makes them acceptable. If this keyboard drops to ~$50, though, things would be even better. At the current price, you should look at other options as well unless you really like the aesthetics.