I’m a creature of habit and detest changing the tools I exploit on daily basis. Anyone who spends hours at a PC knows replacing a keyboard means just a few awkward days of mistyped keys and muscle memory fighting back. That is why, after I finally make the switch, it needs to be price it and why selecting a keyboard that’s best suited on your needs is so essential.
I’m set in my ways. For instance, I absolutely should have a num pad. It’s ingrained in me, and never having one there to make use of would feel utterly strange and unfamiliar. Fortunately, Turtle Beach’s Command Series KB5 delivers exactly that, and even some extras.
Novelty Or Core Function?
The very first thing you immediately notice in regards to the KB5 is the touch display. It’s one in all those distinctively eye-catching features that feel like a little bit of a novelty, but are nonetheless undeniably cool. Do I want just a little touch screen? No. But after using the keyboard for a few weeks, can I now imagine not having my little touch screen? Also no.
The two.4” touchscreen display features programmable buttons, which you arrange via the Turtle Beach Swarm II program. This helps you to arrange various profiles, each with three pages, across different uses, from shortcuts to macros, OBS systems, monitoring system stats or media controls; it’s all at your fingertips. Mine is ready up with shortcuts for all of the programs and web sites I exploit essentially the most, and while at first I did this simply to test out the screen, I find myself using it consistently, and it’s just develop into an ingrained a part of how I exploit my keyboard.
There are also five dedicated macro keys on the left side of the keyboard, fully customisable per-key RGB lighting, and it also comes with optional highly-textured WASD keys (and a keycap puller so you possibly can install them). Overall, the KB5 feels built to create a highly personalised user experience.
It is not just in regards to the bells and whistles, though. With regards to something we use on daily basis, function matters just as much as features. And in terms of keyboards, the texture is just as essential. The Titan low-profile mechanical switches offer a softer, quieter touch than I’m used to, while the double-shot PBT keycaps feel sturdy and premium under the fingertips. As an added bonus, the quieter switches have earned me fewer complaints from my family, who generally hate the loud typing that echoes out from my office.
The KB5 features an 8K polling rate and ultra‑low 0.125ms latency, reportedly making it as much as 8× faster than standard keyboards, which makes all of the difference if you’re mid-game and want that quick feedback and precision. To essentially test its mettle, I enjoyed a night of dungeon and trial runs in Final Fantasy 14 to see if the KB5 helped or hindered me during fast-paced battles, where timing and response times are imperative. It performed exactly as I had hoped, with the keyboard being consistently responsive and with no noticeable input delay or issues.
A Winner For The Right Audience
There are just a few niggles I had with the keyboard. The touchscreen became unresponsive a few times, but I soon realised it was since it needed to be updated in Swarm II. Compounding this frustration was that while updating your keyboard, you possibly can’t use it. Fortunately, it only takes just a few minutes. Also, you might have to reapply your custom template to your screen after, so remember to put it aside to make it easier post-updates.
For a £140 keyboard fitted with premium double-shot PBT keycaps, I’d expect the secondary legends to be just as durable as the first ones. Nonetheless, only the primary legend on each key’s backlit; the secondary is solely printed onto the surface. This not only makes it harder to see in low light, but additionally leaves it more at risk of wear. After just a few weeks of use, my colon key’s already barely legible, and the @ symbol is not far behind.
Turtle Beach’s Command Series KB5 is a solid selection for the precise variety of user. For those who just need a keyboard for general use, you won’t be utilising or appreciating the additional features offered to make it price your while. Nonetheless, for those who’re a competitive gamer who enjoys custom macros, or a streamer or content creator who will appreciate the built-in touch screen to make streaming easier, and even for more general gamers, it’s an important keyboard for £139.99.