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Overall, the Halo96 is a fantastic board, especially when paired with the acrylic/aluminium wrist rest shown above. This looks almost like glass, diffusing the edge RGB throughout the wrist rest and making the keyboard comfier to use too. As well as performing well in games, the K3 is also one of the few Mac-friendly keyboards on the market, with both Mac and Windows keycaps available. If you ever have occasion to use a Mac, you'll no doubt appreciate the hotkeys along the top row of the keyboard and the alternate Mac modifier keycaps. The keyboard should be used via USB-C for competitive gaming, but Bluetooth is also available with around 30 hours of battery life - so you can use it comfortably with the iPhone and iPad, in addition to a wide range of other computers and mobile devices. In short, there are two major keyboard layouts in the world: ANSI for the US, China and some other regions, and ISO for the UK, much of Europe and most other countries. ANSI features a wide left Shift key and a wide Enter key, while ISO instead uses a thin left Shift key and a tall Enter key. If a keyboard's layout looks unfamiliar, this might be why. I particularly enjoyed the feel of this keyboard with the Rose Glacier switches installed, which provide a much more noticeable tactile response than standard MX Brown tactile switches - great for typing, but also ideal for RTS and other genres where key accuracy is critical. All in all, the Keychron K3's compact size, excellent switches and overall aesthetic makes it one of our favourite keyboards for gaming or typing. This keyboard is also uniquely in-demand here at Digital Foundry's Bristol office, and disappearing on many occasions because someone fancied using it for work. If that's not a tacit recommendation, I don't know what is!
I tested it on a range of games that I felt would be fair to show its capabilities across some popular genres. It functioned well with Age of Empires 4, Warframe, The Sims 4 and ESO. Software and Lighting Overall, this is going to be a decent buy if you're strapped for cash and only need something that can manage the basics. It's also a great first mechanical keyboard for kids and teenagers to get used to the difference between mechanical and membrane hardware, but this is likely to disappoint you if you've ever owned a mechanical keyboard from a more globally recognised brand.However, the keyboard does have one major disadvantage. Despite claiming "gaming-grade anti-ghosting technology", the keyboard doesn't offer as high a key rollover count as we'd expect. For example, with Q and W held down, you can't press down 0, H, J, comma or period. This means the keyboard only has a rollover count of two (2KRO), and six is the standard for a good gaming keyboard. Sadly, this is often a downside to choosing membrane over mechanical, and is worth bearing in mind if you are a fast typer or play games that require a lot of simultaneous key presses (like rhythm games or co-op games with two players on a single keyboard). The “rainbow-wave” LED lighting is a nice feature to have on the Trust Gaming GXT 834 Callaz, but it’s limited to six colours. There are a decent number of pre-set patterns (20) which react to your keypresses. The optical sensor built into each switch ensures key presses can be registered in an instant, equalling the responsiveness of much more expensive gaming keyboards like the Razer Huntsman TE we featured in a previous version of this article. Keychron's optical switches are also hot-swappable, making it easy to replace a broken switch or change to an entirely different feel later on. (If you're not sold on optical switches, then you can get regular Gateron low profile switches instead for a slightly lower cost, but note that these aren't hot-swappable.) Watch the latest DF Weekly, where Digital Foundry staff discuss the hottest gaming technology news.
Otherwise, you get a solid but not exceptional feature list, with a detachable USB-C cable, bright per-key RGB lighting, n-key rollover, three-level feet and a comprehensive Function layer. You could certainly find cheaper keyboards with more features - like analogue switches, additional macro keys, volume rollers, wrist rests - but for actual gaming and typing, I'd probably go for the keyboard that truly nails the essentials. Note that the One 3 is also available in 60 percent and full-size sizes. This means while it's an affordable option for those living in the UK or selective countries in wider Europe, we can't reccomend it to our US or Australian-based audience as you'd have to import one which would drastically impact its affordability, and there are alternative products we can suggest for those regions such as the Aukey KMG14 or the MSI Vigor GK50 Elite. Trust GXT 863 Mazz: design and features Of course, it goes without saying that while there are certainly better and worse keyboards on the market, choosing the right keyboard is also a very personal experience. We've tried to consider a range of viewpoints and value judgements, but my number one choice might be one you wouldn't even consider. The keyboard is good for everyday use. The keys are the right height and have decent separation – typing feels accurate, and satisfying, perhaps because of the metal top plate. When it comes to gaming it was comfortable, and easy to use, although it took me a few days to feel comfortable using it. It’s not out-of-this-world amazing, but it certainly isn’t anywhere near bad.Does it make up for that with its low price, metal top plate, and “rainbow-wave” lighting? Keep reading on to find out whether it’s worthy of our best gaming keyboard shortlist. Design The GXT 834 Callaz uses linear red Outemu switches (clones of CHERRY MX reds), which have a 47g actuation force and 4 mm travel. They last for up to 50 million keystrokes, which is half that of the Cherry switches, but still constitute a long and productive life. They’re a little loud compared to the CHERRY MX reds, but it’s not a big deal; the keyboard isn’t advertised as “stealth”.
Choosing the right PC gaming peripherals can make a world of difference, by making it easier to survive in competitive games or simply become immersed in your favourite virtual world for hours on end. We've already covered the best gaming mice and gaming headsets, and now it's time to take a closer look at another critical area: the best gaming keyboards. The keyboard has no wrist support and its design isn’t ergonomic, which is a big blow considering considering the length of time gaming sessions can last. Performance When unplugged, the Trust GXT 863 Mazz looks like a standard office keyboard, losing the dated and edgy design we saw on another Trust offering, the semi-mechanical GXT 811 Odyss. That changes when you plug it in however, as you'll be met with the usual rainbow barf RGB lighting that's become a staple to PC gaming hardware in recent years. Mechanical keyboards are defined by their switches. The most common options are MX switches, originally made by Cherry and now made by a range of manufacturers. Each switch is described by its colour; the three most popular are as follows: I've exhaustively tested each of the keyboards on this list - and many more that didn't make the cut. I've been reviewing gaming keyboards since 2010, from the rebirth of the mechanical keyboard to the uniquely aesthetic examples with novel switches and crazy features hitting the market as we continue into the halcyon days of 2023. It can be hard to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation in this unassuming space, so let me be your guide.From an aesthetic point of view, the GXT 863 Mazz would look completely at home on a desk alongside other gaming peripherals so it'll have plenty of appeal for people who are only bothered about getting something cheap to match their setup. The lighting options are a tad restrictive though, with only 14 pre-set modes and colors to switch between, rather than products from the likes of Razer or Corsair that can be fully customized using branded software. Overall, it's easier to list off what the Corsair K100 can't do than what it can do. If you have the desk space for a full-size-and-then-some keyboard and you'll actually use its many many features, then the K100 is worth every penny of its premium asking price. The GXT 834 Callaz is wired. The cable is braided (always better), and 180 cm, a good length, particularly when the cable is not detachable, as is the case here.
In terms of extra features, this tenkeyless keyboard has a rare volume wheel in the upper right and a button that's set to play/pause by default. This can be customised in the SteelSeries GG software, which also allows different lighting modes and key assignments. You can’t assign macros or rebind keys with the Callaz, which is a bit disappointing in a gaming keyboard. While I am fully aware of its cheaper price point, I was still surprised that it didn’t offer even the most basic macros or rebindable key options. Some gamers don’t care about these things, but many gamers (including myself) prefer to have a more customised gaming experience.Performance-wise, the Trust Gaming GXT 834 Callaz is a decent keyboard. It’s useful for the most basic gamer to the experienced gamer. As it’s on the cheaper side of mechanical keyboards, I wasn’t expecting much, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised. Nuphy also makes the Halo75 and Halo65, which offer the same excellent design in a smaller form factor and at a slightly lower price. We also recommend their low-profile Air75 keyboard. However, mechanical switches are expensive to produce and often sound louder than their non-mechanical counterparts. By comparison, non-mechanical keyboards tend to feel softer, cost less to produce and don't sound as loud. While both options have their objective strengths and weaknesses, it often comes down to personal preference. The Trust Gaming GXT 834 Callaz TKL has the look and (most of) the functionality you would want from a budget mechanical keyboard.
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