ROCCAT Vulcan II Max Optical Gaming Keyboard Review

Summary
There are so many things we loved about the previous version but now the torch has passed to the Vulcan II Max. This keyboard features TITAN II optical mechanical switches, a translucent detachable palm rest, Easy-Shift [+] technology, and HD AIMO RGB lighting priced at $229.99. It’s not always the latest and greatest hypersonic keystroke technology that will turn your head or seal a deal. Often times it’s the small things like a piece of clear rubber. Cheers from all the RGB fans out there for ROCCAT’s big brain move in adding a translucent detachable palm rest. You will find an anodized grey aluminum top plate that gives the keyboard excellent stability. The grey color of this aluminum is off-the-charts dope! It's features like ROCCAT’s proprietary Easy-Shift [+] technology which allows you to open up a second layer of function that really make this product worth it. You would be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t want this keyboard if you saw it IRL.
Good
  • Translucent palm rest
  • Next level RGB lighting
  • Super durable frame
  • Laser fast performance
Bad
  • 2 USB ports
  • Priced a tad high
  • Keys a bit small for my hands
9.2
Amazing
Quality - 10
Performance - 10
Customization - 10
Design - 9
Price - 7

ROCCAT has been taking it to the max lately with their latest generation of peripherals. Another favorite of ours in a past review was the Vulcan 121 which was ROCCAT’s flagship gaming keyboard. There are so many things we loved about the previous version but now the torch has passed to the Vulcan II Max. This keyboard features TITAN II optical switches, a translucent detachable wrist rest, Easy-Shift [+] technology, and HD AIMO RGB lighting priced at $229.99.

Normally I like to talk about design and quality first, but we are going to mix it up today. It’s not always the latest and greatest hypersonic keystroke technology that will turn your head or seal a deal. Often times it’s the small things like a piece of clear rubber. Cheers from all the RGB fans out there for ROCCAT’s big brain move in adding a translucent detachable wrist rest. They use vent-like RGB lighting emitters in the front bottom of the keyboard that illuminates through the wrist rest. The light then follows a linear pattern built into the wrist rest which creates a brilliant and unique RGB experience. I don’t even use wrist rests, but I will now, I love the ingenuity here! I would like to see the keys with a bit more on the top surface for us bigger people but it’s manageable.

You will find an anodized grey aluminum top plate that gives the keyboard excellent stability. The grey color of this aluminum is off-the-charts dope! It features a unique exoskeleton design that makes the keyboard easy to clean and offers each key more illumination. You can find the customized look you want and create a unique experience by swapping compatible third party cross-shaped keycaps. From the outside, it looks almost identical to the previous Vulcan 121 model, including the media controls on the top right side. This keyboard is no short of looks and durability.

We move into the next generation of performance with ROCCAT’s new TITAN II Optical Switches. This specific model is equipped with optical red switches sporting a 1.4 mm Actuation Point at a 3.6 mm Travel Distance. You can also get these in an optical brown with a 1.8 mm Actuation Point at a 3.6 mm Travel Distance. If you are not familiar with optical switches, they use infrared light to actuate the keys, making them the fastest on the market today. As expected, it also features Full Key (NKRO) with 100% Anti-Ghosting, a Polling Rate of 1000 Hz, and a 45g force. Finally, an RGB per-key illumination system with 16.8m colors + 24 smart keys powered by The Swarm software.

You will need 2 USB ports to get the keyboard running at max potential, which I do not like. I think you just need to ask yourself what the price of greatness is. Maybe it’s 2 USB cables per keyboard. I would like to see this product priced under $200. It’s features like ROCCAT’s proprietary Easy-Shift [+] technology which allows you to open up a second layer of function that really make this product worth it. You would be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t want this keyboard if you saw it IRL.

Written by
Gaming since Nintendo! Entrepreneur, gamer, wine lover, America! Come join the fun on the GL Discord!

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