This is the GK71 Sonic keyboard from MSI. It’s one of the higher-end keyboards they have on offer. I’ve been using it daily for the last three weeks, gaming and working, and here are my thoughts.
Wanna see the video review? Skip to the end for the link!
Out of the box, it’s exactly as expected. Sleek, modern, designed for gamers and as this is a full-sized keyboard, all bases are covered, although it takes up some space on your desk. It’s weighty, sturdy and well-constructed. That weight, along with the rubber feet, put this on your desk and it’s fairly secure which is great. It’s got a gun metal and black finish, with some very subtle branding. The keycaps are clear with a black top, which really shows off the RGB, which is plentiful by the way and customisable. As mentioned already, this is full size so you’ve got the arrows and numpad included, plus above the numbpad some audio control options which is a nice touch. You do also get a wrist rest included with the keyboard, which for me, is always a must-have and I personally wouldn’t use a keyboard without one. Anyway, wrist rest is black, squiggey and supportive.
Moving onto spec…
Switches, the one I have here use MSI Sonic Reds, with 35g actuation force, 1.9mil pre travel, and 4mil total travel. But, you can also get Sonic Blues, which has 1.4mil travel, 3.5mil total and force is upto 45g, so there are options depending on your type of play. It’s USB 2.0, not wireless and no wireless option available. In fact, looking at their website, I don’t think MSI offer any wireless keyboards in their current line up which is odd. RGB throughout, per key with onboard profiles and mystic light compatibility for customisation. I mentioned it before but you’ve also got these media controls, which are play/pause, forward and backwards, plus a cool rotary knob for volume control. Also, I hadn’t realised until at least a week into using it but the keyboard and wriest rest, when together, have these X-shaped recesses on the underside, which is used for cabling i.e. your headset, which is kinda handy.
Moving onto performance, I’m happy to say I’ve quite enjoyed using the GK71. It is full-size, and wired so it’s taken some getting used to but once the muscle memory kicks in, it’s smooth sailing. The red switches are clicky but I imagine nowhere near as clicky and loud as the blue variant. It’s a good amount of click for me, not too obnoxious, not too off putting for people around you, yet it’s a satisfying click. Minimal, smooth travel, easy to type and play with.
I’ve been playing some Overwatch 2, some V rising as that came out of beta, that’s a pretty cool game if you’re looking for something, plus some other stuff. I haven’t missed a shot, or movement, or anything. Whenever I’ve asked the keyboard to do something, it has done it and done it well.
If you’re worried about signal conflicts or missed key presses, fear not. The GK71 can automatically detect the pressed key and switch to 6 key or N key rollover, which means you can keep playing, keep grinding flowers on WoW or whatever takes your fancy. For those that don’t know, 6 key rollover or N rollover relates to how many keys can be pressed simultaneously before the keyboard stops registering hits. N is all keys, 6 is, 6 keys simultaneously. In real terms, there isn’t much in it and MSI say both are covered, so you’re good.
Customisation in terms of components, you can change the keycaps if you want a tool to remove them is provided in the box. That’s it, switches are not hot-swappable. In terms of RGB, there are pre-built options in the keyboard and you can adjust them via the arrow keys, page up, down, or delete, those buttons. Hold in the MSI logo button, press an option and scroll through. When happy, stop. They’re generic options, single colour, pulsing, wave, the standard kind of thing you’d expect and I think there is enough to keep you satisfied. Take it a step further and install the MSI software onto your PC and gain more options. Also, you can set up macros and store 3 different profiles within the keyboard memory, and select them on the fly depending on which game you’re playing.
Other thoughts, It’s wired, and I’ve not used a wired keyboard or mouse in years. It’s not a problem, it saves me worrying about battery level but having this extra cable on my desk now, I don’t know what to do with it. How do I hide it and keep it neat. Anyway, thats a me problem but I would prefer if it was wireless.
The font of the keys, I’m not a huge fan. Although you’ve got the muscle memory of typing, I rarely have to look at the keys but when I do, I think, they’re a bit too futuristic. Maybe it’s just me but the M, looking like a sideways E, the N and C, the number 2 on the numpad. I dunno, just a bit of an ick for me.
I think that’s about it for now. I love the look of the GK71, apart from the font. It’s never skipped a beat, it’s been great to play and type with. The RGB is plentiful, it’ll keep you happy. The wrist rest is top notch, love that and I like the audio controls, having the ability to turn the volume up and down with the knob. As for the price, it’s just over the £100 mark, which I think is fair, given what you’re provided with. However, at that price range, there are alot of options for you to consider.
For more info and to purchase, head over to the official MSI GK71 webpage.
