Today we are taking a look at XPG’s more affordable gaming keyboard the MAGE. A lightweight aluminum-bodied mechanical keyboard with a per-key RGB lighting system. The MAGE features 100% anti-ghosting, a detachable UCB Type C cable, 3 customizable profiles, and Red linear mechanical switches priced at $59.99.
A gunmetal aluminum frame sits on top of the MAGE holding its keys in place. You can’t go wrong in the looks category with a surface like this. They did mount its aluminum top to a plastic bottom which takes away from its stiffness and durability. Sometimes it’s the little things that go a long way, like adding a detachable USB Type C cable. I rotate between a 60% and a tenkeyless keyboard depending on the game. This is a big brain idea every keyboard manufacture should implement. Key spacing on the MAGE is nice and compact which every gamer should appreciate. You won’t find any dedicated onboard media controls but that is kind of the beauty behind its minimalist design.
The XPG MAGE features Kailh red switches which provide a quieter experience. These switches feature 3.6mm ± 0.4mm of total travel, a 1.8mm ± 0.4mm actuation point, 35gf ±10gf of actuation force, and have a lifespan of 80 million presses. They are a Cherry MX clone switch that is decent but not the real thing from a performance standpoint. Kailh switches tend to be a bit scratchy which is certainly the case here. I am sure cost was the deciding factor here for XPG but I have seen similarly priced keyboards with red Cherry MX or Gateron switches. As every gaming keyboard should be mechanical or not the MAGE does feature 100% Anti-Ghosting technology. XPG Prime software powers the per-key RGB lighting system which as I have mentioned before is a really solid customization program.
I think there is some value here if you are already using other XPG components. In this case, it would be worth a slight downgrade in switches to keep everything customizable in XPG Prime. It’s a really good-looking keyboard and for our RGB enthusiasts sometimes this is everything when deciding a purchase. XPG also throws in a 2-year warranty for all you nerd ragers. Truth be told when shopping the affordable mechanical keyboard market, it really breaks down to personal preference in the end.
Specifications
Keyboard Color
Gun-metal grey
Keyboard Weight
820g
Keyboard Dimensions (LxWxH)
446 x 135.9 x 32.9 mm
Anti-ghosting keys
100%
Key Switch
Kailh Red Mechanical RGB
Lighting Effect
7 RGB lighting modes (Static / Color Cycle / Breathing / Reactive / Rainbow Wave / Ripple / Marquee)
Number of keys
104
Macro Keys
3
Interface
USB Type A 2.0 – Type C 2.0
Operating Voltage
5V DC
Keystroke Lifecycle
Over 70 million strokes
OS Compatibility
Windows 10
Windows 8
Windows 7
XPG PRIME Support
Yes
Warranty
2 years
