Lighting and Performance

The Montech MKey PRO supports N-key rollover USB and 2.4 GHz which tested successfully using Aqua's test. It defaults to 6KRO with Bluetooth as expected, and note that the polling rate also goes from 1000 Hz over USB/2.4 GHz to 125 Hz with Bluetooth. Switch Hitter confirmed no chatter with these keys either, and seen above are all the functions with dedicated keys on the base layer. This 81-key unit gives you most of the functionality of a TKL keyboard, missing out on Print Screen, Scroll Lock, Pause/Break, Menu, Insert, and End with the R. Win key is replaced by a Fn key as usual.



The Fn layer is handy to access the pre-programmed functions on the keyboard, which are neatly illustrated in the quick start guide for both Windows and macOS. This is primarily on the Fn row, so it would have been nice to see some keyboard-specific legends on the keycaps. These are useful for media playback controls, in addition to shortcuts to pull up common programs, as well as for onboard control over the LEDs. This is further complemented by the multi-functional rotary knob that has three operating modes—zooming in and out, volume adjustment, and RGB mode switching. Pushing down on the wheel to change the mode already makes it a more useful tool than the usual volume wheel found on keyboards. Montech has also added in a lighting ring around the knob at the bottom that helps identify which mode is currently active for the wheel.


Seen above is the Montech MKey PRO lit up in a few different lighting effects. Given the keycaps are opaque, I think it's fair to say anyone wanting an impressive light show is probably going to look elsewhere. It's also basically impossible to read the legends in a dimly lit environment, so some gamers and/or programmers might want to think about this too. The "Freedom" color version might fare better here with its lighter keycaps and the white plate that will help reflect some of the light further upwards. I appreciated the light bar on the side to show me the battery charging status, for example, but otherwise I ended up turning off the switch-associated LEDs entirely to preserve battery life further when in wireless mode. Montech has some preset sleeping and LEDs off functions built into the keyboard too, and battery life is quite good here thanks to the 6000 mAh battery inside. Montech rates 40 hours with the LEDs set to white in full brightness, and I got 35 hours with Bluetooth using the default dynamic lighting effect, which goes down to ~28 hours with 2.4 GHz. Turn off the LEDs and now you are in the multiple hundred hours of battery life, with Montech rating up to 308 hours of use. I have yet to exhaust the battery in this mode despite having used the keyboard on and off for over a week on the same charge cycle now, so I'd say this should please most people. Also helping is the part where either wireless connection option worked without any problems, with the plastic case helping avoid any signal interference we can get from metal case keyboards. Charging the battery takes ~5 hours owing to the absence of quick charging though.


I mentioned before how the Montech MKey PRO comes with the option of two Gateron G Pro 3.0 switches and I have the G Pro 3.0 Brown switch on my sample. This is a tactile switch that Gateron says has an upgraded mold compared to the previous G Pro version, and Gateron also claims the self-lubricating design has reduced spring noise and less stem wobbliness as well as that its anti-oxidation gold alloy contacts help with a longer switch lifespan. In practice, this is quite similar to the Cherry MX Brown down to the rated 55 gf operating force, which is also the peak force for this switch and for the tactile bump itself. We see that the bump arises earlier than the 2 mm actuation distance—not that it really matters as you are guaranteed to actuate once you hit the bump. It is a better tactile switch compared to the MX Brown though—in pretty much every way—and I really could not discern the difference between this and the older Gateron G Pro 2.0 Brown in a blind test. I'd say this switch version is best as an all-rounder for working and gaming alike given the other switch option is linear and also lighter. The issue is with the rest of the keyboard itself, with a poorly implemented gasket mount and arguably too much damping elsewhere. The typing feel isn't ideal for anyone wanting something responsive and with deliberate keystrokes necessarily, and this is even before the part where I had to remove excess lube from the stabilizers that were causing some stickiness.


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 an example sound clip of me typing on the Montech MKey PRO keyboard sample at ~95 WPM as it comes out of the box with these Gateron G Pro 3.0 Brown switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with tactile switches. I did bottom out constantly here, which is almost guaranteed to happen with these tactile switches that have a peak force for the pre-travel bump itself, meaning actuation and even bottoming out takes less force than the tactile feedback early on. This does help demonstrate the extent of dampening employed here, which I would say is on the more overzealous side. I wish the foam was denser between the PCB and the case, and the gaskets were of better quality, but you do get a decidedly damped sound without any higher-pitched pings or reverberations. It's not my style necessarily, but those who want a quieter and deeper sound may prefer this.