Closer Examination

I mentioned before how MSI already offers a full-size version of this keyboard, which is simply called the GK50 Low Profile. I have no experience with it, which is one reason I agreed to do this review in the first place, but the GK50 LP TKL with the inherent increased portability and ergonomics just made more sense as well. The accessories we saw on the previous page add positively to this, and with the keyboard in hand, I am all the more convinced this is the way to go unless you use a dedicated numpad extensively. The TKL form factor of course omits that, and I have here the 87-key US ANSI layout that is extremely light at just over 500 grams. It also takes up less room on your desk owing to the slim bezels on this brushed metal frame and plastic case design that comes in at just ~350 mm wide. I do wish MSI had cut down on the top and bottom bezels too, where the beveled edges add some flair, but ultimately make for a longer unit than could have been.

But I do see the need for it in a world that is quickly being dominated by zero-bezel, low-profile case keyboards, and it allows MSI to carve out a design language that makes whose product this is all the more obvious. The brushed metal frame is also the plate, and it comes in a gunmetal gray color with a cutout at the bottom to reveal the black plastic case below. Branding comes in the form of the MSI dragon etched in above the arrow keys, but also as a novelty keycap on the Fn key itself. There are no extra keys, but we do see cleverly integrated indicator LEDs on the right bezel above the arrow keys. The keycaps themselves are generally clean even with plenty of onboard controls having their respective keyboard-specific legends below the primary ones. General secondary legends are seen alongside primary ones, with single legend placement in the top center, which indicates the use of north-facing LEDs. The legends themselves are on the smaller side of average, and in a font that is halfway between an aggressive gamery and minimalist one. It does seem to be a case of MSI still struggling to fully commit one way or the other.


Turning the keyboard around, we see more of the design continuing with angles galore cut into the case in a place no one will see when the keyboard is sitting on the desk, and this goes for the huge MSI logo, too. The certification sticker is placed in a cutout, and there are five rubber pads at the top and bottom to prevent the keyboard from sliding around on your desk. MSI also goes practical with two sets of keyboard feet at the top for a total of three keyboard elevation options, and these open up sideways to further prevent them from collapsing easily, and have rubber pads at the bottom.


The detachable cable adds to the portability of the keyboard, although not as much as some form of wireless connectivity, of course. The side facing away from the user has a cutout in the middle, where the USB Type-C connector of the cable plugs in, and there isn't much room to allow for coiled/split aftermarket cables with substantial connector housings to fit. The cable is braided in a durable black sleeve, and the connectors are gold-plated for additional oxidation resistance. You will need a spare USB Type A port on your PC thus, and USB 2.0 will suffice for power and data alike, but I recommend going with a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) port just to ensure the required 500 mA over 5 VDC are easily met.


A look from the side confirms the low-profile nature of this keyboard, coming in at just over 3 cm at the tallest point before the keyboard feet are raised. MSI could have gone even lower with a flatter case no doubt, but that would have sacrificed typing comfort. This is still ~1 cm lower than typical keyboards, and much of this has to do with the choice of the switches, too. The keycaps themselves I would rather see replaced, with this trend of cutting down the sides of thin ABS keycaps to make them seem lower in profile doing nothing for me. It does have more LED lighting shine through around the keycaps, but also results in more light bleed and mixing of colors. On the plus side, you will barely need to use the provided keycap puller since they are fairly easy to remove. On the flip side, given these are not your typical MX crosspoint stem keycaps, finding replacement keycaps will be a pain. The keyboard-specific legends are another reason to hold on to these even though the thin ABS plastic will inevitably show signs of use over time, with the laser-etched legends wearing out as well. The space bar keycap already had started displaying spots of some shine in the couple of weeks I used the keyboard, which I still managed to wipe off at least. Typing on these keycaps is fairly easy given the larger surface, but the combination of minimally contoured rows and larger keycaps with small gaps in between makes it harder to immediately transition over from, say, an OEM profile mechanical keyboard.


MSI had to go with that specific keycap profile and composition, which seems to be somewhat common across all such recently released low-profile keyboards, because this keyboard is only available in a single switch option, which happens to be the Kailh Choc White low-profile. Notice the different design of this switch, which has two cutouts in the stem that the keycap fits into and a much smaller profile compared to the standard Cherry MX-style mechanical switch. This is certainly an interesting choice for a single-switch keyboard given it is a tactile and clicky switch I would not recommend for gaming. There are also two styles of plate-mounted stabilizers, with the shorter keycaps employing just a metal bar. Both types come pre-lubed from the factory, and it is well-applied to where this goes a long way in improving the typing experience with the space bar key in particular.