Thermaltake level 20 rgb gaming keyboard review complete (in Spanish)

During the CES of this same year Thermaltake presented this new series of keyboards for players within its prestigious Level 20 range. A new keyboard model that we will find located with ES keyboard, two variants of Cherry MX mechanism and also an option on the way with mechanisms. Razer Green in what may be the first manufacturer to use this mechanism from its direct competition.

A new keyboard in two metallic finishes, black and silver. Today we will discuss the black version with one of the fashionable mechanisms, the Cherry MX Speed Silver, which achieves spectacular performance for those seeking silence and a good mechanical response with little pressure.

First of all, we must thank Thermaltake for the assignment of this product and for their trust in us for making this analysis.

Thermaltake Level 20 RGB, deepening its Mechanism

As we have already mentioned Thermaltake will allow three mechanism options with the new Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard. Two of Cherry MX type, one this one we tested today and the other option is the Cherry MX Blue RGB. The latter offers the double click that many users like so much and that horrifies so many others. The third option is perhaps more exotic because Thermaltake will use the Razer Green mechanism that Razer created for its own ranges of gamer keyboards.

Be that as it may, the one we have here with us is the Cherry MX Speed Silver. This mechanism. Curiously, this mechanism was created by Cherry to compete with other mechanisms of its competition, such as the Razer Yellow, offering average operating force levels, close to classic brown or red, but with a more than perceptible reduction in both the total travel of the mechanism and at its activation distance.

A classic mechanism, such as black or red, have a 4mm path to the end of the mechanism and its trigger point is 2mm away. This means that we have to lower the stem of the mechanism by 2mm to activate it and we can continue to go down to 4mm, which is when our fingers collect that information that we have pressed the key correctly.

In the case of Cherry MX Speed Silver we have the same operating force of the red mechanism, with 45 grams of force, the same linear activation behavior, we do not have an audible click as in the red or black mechanism and the activation distances are reduced to just 1.2mm, 40% less distance. In addition, the key ends its travel at 3.4mm, more than half a millimeter less than total travel.

They can be negligible distances but our fingers are very sensitive and more for experienced users, so the feeling of this mechanism is that it is really fast, quiet and has a fast recovery that can be very well combined with a very fast style of play.

Personally I think that the theme of the mechanisms is more a matter of personal taste, for example, I prefer blacks, but it is evident that this mechanism is faster than its classic touring brothers and also allows you to have a RGB diffuser housing what It makes perfect for montages as we see in the new Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard.

Design and ergonomics

The Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard is a keyboard with some cool new design aspects. We start from a traditional base with the usual key layout of a mechanical keyboard, with a fast-moving area, cursors and a separate numerical area, where the mechanisms have been mounted on the surface, on a very thick aluminum support base that enhances the lighting system and allows to create a smaller base, with a slimmer appearance, although in height the keyboard does not differ much from others that do not have the mechanism on the surface.

So far nothing that we have not seen many other times, this type of mechanism mounting is already very common and all brands have series with this type of mounting. The difference is found in that Thermaltake has worked well the rest of the keyboard design and has not focused only on whether its LEDs are showy or not.

For example, the cut between the QWERTY zone and the numerical-displacement zone is a detail that is not only aesthetic, but functionally makes a complete visual fracture of these two keyboard zones and allows us to better focus on the use of each zone. in every moment. This real cut in the lower area is continued with a line of LEDs that goes towards the top giving a real cut feeling throughout the journey.

I also like how Thermaltake has rounded the lower area that allows us a great comfort of using the keyboard without the need for the uncomfortable (this is my opinion) fixed or removable wrist rests. It practically does the same function of reducing the angle of attack of the hands and the keyboard and you don't need to add anything.

The chassis is plastic, and there is a clear division between the two zones through a zone of LEDs that runs along the two sides and the upper profile of the Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard.

The key layout is very good, everything is where it should be, including the quick function key that has been placed, cleverly to the right of the space key. The special function keys of the keyboard are also where we hope to find them and there are no macro keys in places that can get in the way, all the programming will be done at the level of each available keyboard.

Multimedia control keys include volume control, with digital wheel, quick mute and playback control with stop, play-pause, track back-forward. They are also illuminated, like the rest of the keyboard.

Near it we will find status LEDs, classic, that have a functional advantage and that is that they allow us to maintain the coloration and effects that we want. In other keyboards, in order to report these locks, we usually change the color of the key, personally I like the classic method more.

We will also find three keyboard control keys. One activates the virtual gamepad, which we will talk about later, the other controls the lighting (intensity, off and on) and the third allows us to block the Windows key by hardware.

Under the keyboard we will find two support legs with three positions, fully retracted, half height and full height. I like that there is a third option position, it is always good to give the user the possibility to better choose the angle in which they prefer the keyboard to rest. The legs are gummed, and the keyboard has well placed support areas so that we do not have unwanted movements of the keyboard by the support surface.

Connectivity and response

The connection cable is fixed, sheathed in Nylon, and there is no possibility of channeling it to the sides. It uses two USB 2.0 cables although in reality one of them is only passing through and ends in a connector at the top of the keyboard so that we can directly connect the mouse or any other USB device there.

USB cables are also accompanied by another audio jack type cable, with stereo and microphone in the same connector. We can use it to connect our headphones there and focus much of the connectivity of peripherals on the keyboard itself.

All connectors are gold plated for better connectivity and have a length of two meters, the usual for this type of peripherals. USB 2.0 connectivity, on the other hand, guarantees a very fast response, specifically 1ms or 1000Hz on this keyboard. Thermaltake has also added the appropriate electronics to this keyboard to have a complete NKRO system (N-key rollover) that will allow us to always have keyboard response, even if we press all the keys on the keyboard at the same time.

The speed of rapid update of information of the keyboard, through its USB connector, added to the NKRO system will allow us to play without a Ghosting effect or keystrokes that take time to take effect and is especially necessary if we want complete equipment for a quick response to movements that include fast monitors with Freesync or Gsync systems.

RGB

The mechanism chosen by Thermaltake for this model is RGB type and it is with the housing itself as a light diffuser. It's translucent, but it also retains some of the RGB system built into the key. This added to a contrasting surface makes the lighting system powerful and very alive and we can perfectly identify the lighting of each keyboard from any angle.

Keycaps are full-size Cherry type and laser engraved. They are all black, but Thermaltake adds some red swap so we can change the keys we want to identify more quickly while playing. Each key allows combinations of 16 million colors and we can change the modes and speed directly from the keyboard or through the powerful control software included with it. This keyboard supports 6 profiles in memory, to be able to be used without installing any program or driver whatever the PC where we connect our keyboard.

PC and mobile software

This new keyboard is compatible with Thermaltake's TT iTake application, which also has an extension of its own for Android or IOS that offers enough potential to control this or other Thermaltake peripherals from your mobile or tablet. TT iTake also uses TT Sync technology that allows us to synchronize different brand devices, including lighting all of them in addition to offering combined actions between keyboards and mice, for example.

Currently this application supports keyboards, mice, power supplies, cooling system including liquid cooling systems, LED strips, fans and box lighting, etc. Additionally, the TT RGB Plus technology, which this keyboard also has, allows us to synchronize the lighting of these peripherals with Razer's Razer Chroma technology.

Thermaltake's software also adds some really cool functional pearls. It is compatible with Alexa so we can use this assistant to control the lighting of our keyboard. It has different compatible usage rules that allow us to take complete control of the lighting system from our mobile, smart speaker, PC, etc.

The mobile application also allows us to access a virtual gamepad that will allow us to play on the mobile, but on our PC with on-screen controls. Additionally, it also has a virtual keyboard in case we have or want to enter information from the mobile to the computer.

TT iTake also allows us to program each of the keys independently and to perform complex macros with individualized programming of latencies between keys and loops by pressing or activating and deactivating by pressing. We can generate up to six usage profiles and record them on the keyboard. We miss that the use of each profile cannot be aligned depending on a Windows executable, that is, that it automatically changes profiles according to the game we run.

The profiles are recorded in the MB of storage memory of the Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard so we do not have to use programs on other computers, although there are functionalities, such as launching a profile automatically, which will not be available without the keyboard software.

Last words about Thermaltake Level 20 RGB Gaming Keyboard

There are no perfect keyboards, because in the peripherals that we have so much in contact with the person there is always a high load of subjectivity. I personally do not like these quick mechanisms too much, I prefer a black or blue if I am going to use it for more tasks than playing, but it is clear that this Cherry mechanism, the MX Speed Silver, is notably faster than the classic designs of the brand.

Apart from this opinion about the mechanism I think Thermaltake has a fairly round keyboard with good connective equipment, good ergonomics and a bold and modern design. If I had to fault it, it is that it does not have USB 3.0 connectivity, to be able to be USB-C type with removable connector.

I also like its management through its software and although I doubt that I used the functionalities of Alexa, or the mobile application, I think it is a good initiative of Thermaltake to give the user all the possibilities.

We recommend reading the best keyboards on the market

As for the behavior of the keyboard, the truth is that we have been very satisfied. Also keep in mind that it is not an economic model, far from it, reaching 165 Euros with this configuration. I also want to clarify that although the distribution of the photos is from the UK, we can find this variant in the ES distribution in the coming weeks for the same price.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ MECHANICAL KEYBOARD WITH CHERRY SWITCHES	- PRICE
+ MOBILE APP
+ SOFTWARE
+ RGB LIGHTING
+ ALEXA COMPATIBILITY