C
ooler Master’s CK550 V2 is the
latest addition to the company’s
keyboard range, and it includes RGB
lighting and plenty of programmability. It has
an attractive design with a smart, brushed
aluminium-topped casing. The top folds over
the edges in a similar way to the Ducky Shine
7, making for a slightly larger footprint than
necessary, but it gives the keyboard a more
interesting, angular look than usual.
A welcome design touch is that the lo ck
key indicator lights in the top right have RGB
LEDs, so you can control their colour and
brightness along with the rest of the keyboard.
What this keyboard can’t really claim, though,
is to have particularly high-end build quality. It
weighs in at just 852g, and although the build
is reasonably stiff, it clearly doesn’t have the
hefty core of some of the keyboards on test.
Pop off the keycaps and you can clearly see
they’re not doubleshot either, so the black
paint that outlines the legends will eventually
wear through.
You also miss out on a lot of extra features,
such as a USB pass-through or extra gaming
keys. You do, however, get a keycap removal
tool in the box and a large, padded wrist rest.
The latter is essentially like a slice of very thick
(15mm) soft mouse mat, with a rubberised
bottom, foam middle and fabric top. It’s a
clever addition, as it’s much more comfortable
to use than most included wrist rests, yet it’s
also no doubt affordable to make and include
in the bundle.
COOLER MASTER
CK550 V2 /£95 inc VAT
SUPPLIER amazon.co.ukThe key layout is entirely standard, with
no extra keys, but you do get masses of
secondary functions built into the keys’
functions, with labelling for them on the
keycaps. Hitting Fn with the F keys controls all
the lighting settings, switches on the Gaming
mode (Windows key lock) and also controls
macro recording.
The Home/End cluster has media playback
and volume controls, the cursor keys add
further macro control and the 1-4 keys switch
the keyboard profiles. It will take some time
to learn all the combinations, but it’s handy to
have all that extra control built into the design
and clearly labelled.
Cooler Master’s MasterPlus+ software
makes setup easy as well, with full control
of backlighting, key mapping and macros.
Unfortunately, the software also ruined our
review sample, when it failed to install a
firmware update (this broke the backlighting
and extra functions, although typing still
worked), though a later update fixed this.
At the top of Cooler Master’s current
keyboard stack is the company’s MK850
(reviewed in Issue 193), which features keyswitches that have an analogue response. The
further you press down the key, the higher the
response in-game, just like the triggers on a
control pad. The MK850 is also equipped with
real Cherry MX switches.
Comparatively, the CK550 V2 uses an MX
clone switch without the analogue response,
although they’re available in exactly the same
blue, brown and red configurations as the
Cherry ones, with a 50+ million lifespan. We
tested the red version and it felt just as good as
using conventional Cherry MX red switches.Conclusion
The CK550 V2 is a great value mid-
range mechanical keyboard. It offers a
stylish aluminium-topped design, fully
programmable RGB backlighting and key
functions, and it all comes in at a very modest
price of under £100. It doesn’t have the
high-end heft of more expensive models,
or much in the way of extra features, but
it delivers if you just want the basics in an
SPEC attractive package.
Dimensions (mm) 460 x 135 x 32-40 (W x D x H)
Weight 852g
Format Standard 105 keys
Connections USB
Switch type Cooler Master mechanical
(Blue, Brown or Red)
Switch life 50+ million keystrokes
Backlighting RGB
Extras Keycap removal tool, foam wrist restVERDICT
Stylish and capable, if not the most
ruggedly built, this is a decent-value
mechanical keyboard.
MASTERY
+ Stylish design
+ Good value
+ Even lock key lights
are RGB
+ Nice foam wrist restMYSTERY
- A touch
- Firmware update
bricked it - Few extra features
DESIGN
20 / 25
PERFORMANCE
20 / 25FEATURES
15 / 25
VALUE
23 / 25OVERALL SCORE
78 %
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The key layout is entirely standard, with
no extra keys, but you do get masses of
secondary functions built into the keys’
functions, with labelling for them on the
keycaps.HittingFn with the F keys controls all
the lighting settings, switches on the Gamingswitches that have an analogue response. The
further you press down the key, the higher the
response in-game, just like the triggers on a
control pad. The MK850 is also equipped with
realCherry MX switches.
Comparatively, the CK550 V2 uses an MX
clone switch without the analogue response,
althoughthey’reavailableinexactly thesame