Two years ago, I thought the XPG Summoner wasn't bad, but it felt dated in terms of the feature set for the cost. The XPG MAGE costs significantly less while trimming down some features, but adding some more with software support to where this is certainly a more attractive value offering even today, and the better of the two XPG keyboards in that regard. At $80, the XPG MAGE is also a good example of how much the world of mechanical keyboards has progressed, with premium keyboards from mainstream brands now going the higher build quality route and adding features, such as stock PBT keycaps and even noise-dampening foam, and more budget-friendly options from said brands finding there is tough competition from Asia.

XPG is technically Asian too, but larger than the likes of Redragon, Akko, Royal Kludge, etc., to where it still enjoys a global retail channel and more resources from ADATA. This shows with the design I have seen multiple times with keyboards costing around as much or more, and a more polished software offering that single-handedly makes this worth considering over those mentioned above. I'll even add Epomaker, whose use of the GK6XPlus drivers has become the reason not buy its keyboards now. Ticking off the feature list to attract gamers because this is of course a "gaming keyboard" is a gaming mode and good macro editor combined with key mapping through both software and hardware controls.

There are many places where the XPG MAGE does come off half-baked, though. As explained in detail on page five, the software experience is certainly one. Having a single switch option is certainly a choice, but the one switch is a good one even if it happens to be the older version of the current switch. RGB lighting is another example of where there are plenty of effects to choose from and customize via software, with less stored onboard, but then there is no per-key lighting even though the LEDs can do do it. There are enough shortcomings even before we discuss the keycaps and objectively bad stabilizers to where I want to see XPG make small improvements and sell a MAGE v.2, even for $90, that I will be happier to recommend than the current state of affairs.