Custom PC - UK (2020-06)

T

heK5isoneofthemoreexpensive
membranekeyboardsinthisLabs–
theonlypriciermodel,the
SteelSeriesApex3,isjustonepoundmore.
TheAsusisalsooneoftheloudest-looking
unitsinthisgroup.Atthetopisa patterned
sectionwiththeTUFlogo,andinthetop-right
corner,therearefivelargestatuslights.There
aremoreTUFgaminglogoselsewhere,and
thelargewristrestispartofthemainbodyof
thekeyboard,socan’tbedetached.
Theboldphysicaldesignispairedwith
largedimensions,thanksinlargeparttothat
wristrest.At 460 mmwideand 218 mmdeep,
thisisoneofthebiggestunitsintheLabs.
It’s 40 mmtallwithoutitsfeetextended,too,
makingit thebulkiestkeyboardhere.

ASUS TUF

GAMINGK5/£59inc VAT

SUPPLIER scan.co.uk

The Gaming K5 is sturdier than most of the

other membrane, plastic keyboards in the

Labs, but its plastic body still can’t compare

to the rock-solid aluminium of the Logitech

G413 or the tenkeyless HyperX.

The K5 has five-zone RGB LED lighting

that includes a handful of common effects

• so it’s immediately more versatile than the
  G413. The lighting is weak and inconsistent
  on each key, though, and the SteelSeries is
  better – its illumination is stronger, and it has
  twice as many lighting zones.
  Elsewhere, it has dedicated buttons to
  adjust the backlight strength and your PC’s
  volume, and it uses a spill-resistant frame
  that is designed to cope with drinks and
  sweat. There isn’t any USB pass-through,
  though, and no macro keys.
  The K5 can store three different profiles
  and record macros, and it has 24-key rollover
  and anti-ghosting, and it uses membrane
  switches that are designed to mimic tactile,
  mechanical hardware.
  The buttons strike a good balance
  between membrane and mechanical
  hardware. They’re light, fast, and consistent,
  with an action that’s snappier than most
  other membrane units. The keys have
  a 3.7mm travel distance, which is half a
  millimetre more than the Logitech, and
  almost level with the HyperX unit.
  The K5’s buttons have a pronounced
  tactile bump – even when compared with
  mechanical units – which adds to their solid
  feeling. In terms of popular mechanical
  hardware, the Asus is closest to Cherry MX
  Brown switches.
  The Asus’ keys are just as fast as the keys
  on the SteelSeries, although the SteelSeries
  does have bouncier buttons – if you play
  fast-paced games, the Apex will be a little

better. Overall, though, the K5 has a fast,

crisp gaming action, and it’s better in this

regard than the Romer-G mechanical

switches inside the Logitech G413.

Elsewhere there are only minor problems.

The keys have a good weight to them, but

they feel a little off-balance and wobble a

bit too much. The space bar isn’t impressive,

either. It feels hollow and markedly different

from the rest of the buttons. The K5 is very

loud, too.

Conclusion

The Gaming K5 is a rather inconsistent

budget keyboard. Its buttons are just as

quick as the SteelSeries’ keys without

the potentially annoying bounceback,

and they’re better than the Logitech’s

mechanical keys. The K5 also offers RGB

LED lighting, profile storage, and a few

extra buttons.

The decent, mechanical-style buttons

are undermined by loud operation,

underwhelming lighting, and divisive design

• as well as the proper mechanical buttons
  on the similarly priced HyperX.
  The Asus is hard-wearing and more
  versatile than the SteelSeries, but
  mechanical devices will still provide a purer
  typing experience for only a little more cash.

SPEC

Connection Wired, USB

Cable 1.8m, unbraided

Material Plastic

Switch type Membrane

Backlighting 5-zone RGB

Extras Integrated wrist rest, spill-resistant,

volume keys

VERDICT

It’s tough and has decent typing, but the

Asusishamperedbyinconsistent design.

TOUGH

• 
  

  Decent typing action

  
  


• 
  

  Spill-resistant
  and robust

  
  


• 
  

  Good features

  
  

TENDER

• Immature aesthetics


• Poor lighting


• A little expensive

DESIGN

29 / 40

FEATURES

30 / 35

OVERALLSCORE

78 %

VALUE

19 / 25