Software

This is already different from the XPG Summoner that had no software support, and in the two years since XPG has worked on bringing out XPG Prime, its unified software drivers. It has a dedicated web page where the link to download the installer is also found. It downloads as part of a larger set of files in a compressed archive including a JSON file, which does make this feel more like an intern put the least amount of effort possible into getting it over to the end user. There are a bunch of firmware updater tools as well, but nothing that was useful here given the recent release and this not being a mouse or headset, as that folder contains many tools. The executable opens and installs the drivers without any customization options, so you have no control over where it installs and what EULA you may have inadvertently agreed to. Once again, this is quite a rookie move from XPG, one I hope is rectified as soon as possible. Once installed, there is a dreaded log-in page, but you thankfully do not need to have an XPG account to use the software because of the "Continue as a guest" option at the bottom.


At this point, you are prompted to choose between using the keyboard with the onboard or software settings, which clearly are separate and not stored onboard the device. I chose the latter to demonstrate the software page better, but XPG should better explain the differences between the two to the average end user. You now get to the home page, where all supported devices no doubt show up given the lighting synchronization setting here. Clicking on the thumbnail of the XPG MAGE takes you to the device-specific section, where the skin on top of the drivers is less subtle—I am once again reminded of a common software platform XPG has clearly built upon to make it look cleaner and its own. It works well enough though, with XPG Prime scaling well with high DPI displays and OS scaling, and the general elements are laid out in a fairly logical manner. My bigger issue is that it is heavier on system resources than I'd like, often exceeding 8% CPU utilization by itself on the Intel Core i9-9900K and taking up nearly 600 MB of space.

Seen above is a video going over using XPG Prime with the XPG MAGE, and most of my experience has been positive. It does appear to have an integrated firmware updater, and many languages are supported. Canvas appears to be XPG's take on a more customizable lighting editor, which allows for multiple layers and a few other lighting effects on top of the few offered by default for the device. These default effects are also saved onboard the device, also for easier syncing with other compatible XPG products. Surprisingly, there is no per-key lighting even though the LED hardware drivers are capable of it, as shown by the various lighting effects. The rest of the options include a detailed key-mapping section, with the virtual keyboard proving handy when assigning as many as three profiles with key mapping options ranging from a choice of keyboard characters and mouse functions to several quality-of-life options, such as media controls, program shortcuts, text insertion, and macros in three sets. There is thus the expected macro editor, which does all I can reasonably ask of it, and a specific gaming mode customization where you can choose what happens when the keyboard is put in it. Not bad for my first XPG software experience, but there clearly remains room for improvement.