Introduction

Our first Thermaltake keyboard review was of the Level 20 GT RGB keyboard earlier this year, with it being a part of Tt's venture to put forward their Level 20 brand across different product segments, including the cases it originally started with. In that very review, I made a brief comparison to the non-GT offerings, which are higher up the pecking order from the company. Today, we take a look at the Thermaltake Level 20 RGB gaming keyboard, and thanks again to Thermaltake for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp.


The Tt Level 20 series always made a statement about big, bold, structural rigidity via thick aluminium panels, which is also the case with the Level 20 RGB keyboard. Indeed, one of the biggest marketing features here, as with the Level 20 GT keyboard before, is the use of a 2 mm thick aluminium frame that prominently lays the base for the rest of the keyboard, which is on the larger side of average for even full-size keyboards. We see dedicated volume and media controls, as well as RGB backlighting. There is more going on here, even compared to the Level 20 GT, with an RGB LED strip in the middle of the keyboard, for example, and we will cover it all on the subsequent pages, but begin with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

Thermaltake operates a web shop in the USA. However, this sample came from a marketing hub, so we begin with a look at the product packaging. A plastic wrap covers the packaging, which is not very practical, and removing it shows off the product box in more detail. The box, as with the keyboard inside, is larger than average and adopts a black base with the Tt logo in the top-left corner and the product name, salient features, and a large render of the keyboard on the front. This continues on the back and sides with more renders, features, and specifications laid out in multiple languages. Two seals on the sides help keep the contents inside in place during transit.


Opening the box, we see an inner box that is plain black cardboard and has a double flap on the side. Unwrapping this box reveals the keyboard inside a thin foam wrap and held in place snugly between two thicker foam pieces. Accessories are found in the cardboard compartment above the keyboard and underneath the keyboard itself.


The keyboard comes with a warranty policy document as well as a multi-language quick guide (online copy here). Thermaltake also provides a detailed user guide online. A set of replacement keycaps in a plastic clamshell package with a plastic ring-style keycap puller has been included as well. The keycaps are composed of thin ABS plastic (average wall thickness 0.92 mm) with a red surface and laser etched legends for 1234/QWER/ASD keys. As seen above, these are backlighting compatible. I would have liked a metal wire keycap puller instead to minimize the potential of scratching the sides of keycaps when used, but this option is less expensive, so I understand why it was chosen.