We all know that a popular marketing strategy in gaming equipment is to include lots of RGB. RGB stands for red-green-blue, the three primary colors of light, which means that "RGB" gaming peripherals are capable of the entire light color spectrum. And although this has close to no effect on your in-game performance, RGB in the right amounts and the right places can really makes something pop. However, something we've seen all too often in gaming peripherals is RGB overload; when an item has so much RGB it's obnoxious and almost sickening. I mean, the item itself has to have a color scheme too!
And now, we've found one of the most RGB keyboards in existence. It's so RGB, it acts more like a light strip rather than a keyboard. The Thermaltake Level 20 keyboard has so much RGB, it makes you want to puke rainbows. In this article, we'll be taking you through its features (hint: many of them are related to the lighting!).
You know a keyboard is heavy RGB when there is a split down the middle of the keyboard for the sole purpose of incorporating more RGB. I mean, that doesn't even help it look good in my opinion, it just makes the keyboard give off more light. Honestly, you could just use this thing as a lamp.
There are a ton of RGB zones in this keyboard. Here's the list: below the keys, line between the alphas and arrows, inside the split between rctrl and left arrow, strip on the front of the keyboard, strips on either sides of the keyboard, in the Thermaltake logo, and lastly on the multimedia keys. The RGB is also quite easy to control, as this keyboard is compatible with the Razer Chroma spyware (sorry, software :P). Additionally, you can control the keyboard with Amazon Alexa by downloading a plugin on the Alexa app. Personally, this isn't too useful to me as I don't want constantly-recording microphones in my room, and my setup is in my room. However, other people may find this useful if they have a dedicated gaming room, or game in their living room, or are OK with having an Alexa in their bedroom. Even so, I don't really know why they had to add this, as they literally have a key for controlling lighting.
As for other features, this keyboard also has multimedia keys, with pause/play/forward/backwards and a waterfall volume button (always a favorite of mine). However, I would rather have had Thermaltake chop off the numpad, and move the multimedia keys above the alphas and arrows. Additionally, there is both a USB and microphone jack passthrough, but unfortunately it is not a hub, it is just a passthrough. For a $140 keyboard, I find this kind of lame. The Das Keyboard Professional, while being devoid of RGB lights, offers a much better typing experience with brown switches, and arguably gaming experience as well, and includes a two-port USB hub.
The only switch this keyboard comes with are Cherry MX Blues, which doesn't really come as a surprise as the kind of gamers who want as much light as possible are often the kind that like click as well. Even so, if you are on a call with your friends while playing, it will be difficult to not have your microphone pick up the sonic booms emitting from your keyboard.
For the typing experience, the price is awful, as you could have some smooth Gateron browns for much less with the Magicforce lineup. Other components, like the keycaps, case, and plate, seem to be of average quality. Really, the only thing to speak of about this keyboard is the RGB. Overall, if you don't need ridiculous RGB, this is an average-joe keyboard at a ludicrous price.
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