IOGear HVER PRO X review: Get your hands on optical mechanical switches without breaking the bank

IOGear HVER PRO X Source: Windows Cardinal

IOGear makes a lot of budget-friendly PC accessories, with a dedicated "Kaliber Gaming" brand aimed at gamers. While it released an HVER PRO RGB mechanical gaming keyboard a couple of years ago, the new HVER PRO X is a recent improver that makes a change to optical-mechanical switches. It's an otherwise similar pattern, so is the extra price worth it? I used the HVER PRO Ten equally my chief gaming keyboard for a couple of weeks to meet whether or not information technology'south worth being the next addition to your PC.

RGB Optical Gaming Keyboard

IOGear HVER PRO X

Bottom line: The HVER PRO Ten brings optical performance with brownish mechanical switches, per-fundamental RGB lighting, and supporting software. For the price, it'due south a tempting purchase, simply there are some things to consider before making a final conclusion.

Pros

Macro customization support
Per-key RGB lighting
Snappy keypress response
Solid aluminum chassis
Anti-ghosting on all keys

Cons

Loud keys with a loose feel
Support software could be more intuitive
Metallic chassis is a scrap overdone

What I beloved virtually IOGear'south HVER PRO X

IOGear HVER PRO X Source: Windows Central

The HVER PRO X, much similar the sibling HVer PRO RGB, is built into a metallic chassis with a plastic lesser. It's solid and heavy plenty that it doesn't easily slide around on your desk, helped by condom pads on the bottom. It can prevarication flat, but at that place are flip-out feet that prop it up at a much friendlier angle. The keyboard doesn't come with a padded palm rest like some premium options, simply it'southward comfy enough without. A tool to pull keys is too embedded into the bottom panel. It's a overnice touch that makes the tool far less prone to disappearing into some other realm (a seemingly common result in my office).

The full-size keyboard includes a number pad you can use for productivity work or to set upward macros with the custom software. Along with the flared metal edges, the board is not exactly meaty. It'll no incertitude fit fine on virtually desks, but if you lot like a minimalist setup, yous should probably check out another options.

IOGear HVER PRO X Source: Windows Cardinal

The primary selling point of the HVER PRO Ten is its optical-mechanical switches, which IOGear claims are near 25% faster than the ordinary switches found on its HVER PRO RGB. The PRO X all the same uses brown switches for a mechanical feel. Yet, instead of a metal contact within each ane, in that location's a beam of light (moving from interrupted to uninterrupted) that brings faster and more than precise actuation. These optical switches should theoretically concluding longer than traditional switches.

Anti-ghosting and fast actuation with optical switches brand the HVER PRO X a smooth keyboard that'due south great for gaming.

Actuation feels curt, and playing frantic games like Phone call of Duty: Warzone and DOOM Eternal is every bit smooth as I've experienced. The board also features total N-Key Rollover (NKRO) for all its keys. This anti-ghosting blueprint cuts down on key presses going unnoticed, which sometimes means the difference between virtual life and death.

Because there are no metal contacts within the switches, IOGear claims the HVER PRO X is "nearly allowed to spills and dust." I wouldn't desire to exam it out since pouring water on anything with RGB lighting seems similar a bad thought, only at least those with pets tin can pull off the keycaps and wipe the board down with a damp cloth and non be as worried near ruining any internals. The keycaps don't but have the letters and numbers printed on, either; all are embedded, so they don't article of clothing off.

What I disliked nearly IOGear's HVER PRO X

IOGear HVER PRO X Source: Windows Central

The metal cover has a cute brushed-aluminum wait, but I'g not a big fan of the extra flared metallic on the edges. Some might similar the stylized approach, just information technology just seems a bit tacky for my taste. At least when gaming in a dark room, the per-fundamental RGB lighting — which is adjustable for brightness — takes over. In a well-lit room, the LEDs are hard to run into, even cranked up to maximum brightness.

Customization is handled through proprietary software that offers enough of fancy presets and the ability to fix macros for whatever key on the board. The merely gripe is that the software could exist a bit more than intuitive to better compete with some of the more than premium brands on the market.

Finally, coming from my usual Logitech G513 with proprietary "Romer-G" switches, the HVER PRO X's keys are quite loud. Information technology's not as noticeable while gaming and hitting WASD and a few surrounding keys, but sitting down to type even a curt message is a bit aggravating. Keys just feel and sound a flake loose, and it's not something I'd like to put up with every day if I was buying a keyboard to double for productivity work.

Should you buy the IOGear HVER PRO X?

IOGear HVER PRO X Source: Windows Central

The lesser line hither is if you lot're using the HVER PRO X only for gaming, information technology's going to please. It's no incertitude not the best performing optical keyboard on the market, but for the toll, it'due south quite tempting. The keys are annoyingly loud, but that issue is only noticeable when typing for productivity. Software is more on the basic side compared to other options out there; however, it still allows for per-key RGB customization and macro setup.

The HVER PRO X is still relatively new, so it's still enervating a higher toll compared to the HVER PRO RGB. If you like the expect of these boards and don't mind the metal contacts that don't have quite the aforementioned performance (though still not bad for most gamers), you can choice upwardly the PRO RGB for almost $l. Otherwise, you're looking at spending closer to about $90 for the PRO 10.

If yous adopt an optical keyboard with no crash-land at all, you lot'll want to check out something like Razer's Huntsman Elite TE. And be sure to have a look at our roundup of the all-time overall gaming keyboards for more buying options.

RGB Optical Gaming Keyboard

IOGear HVER PRO X

IOGear HVER PRO 10

Bully for gaming, not then much for typing

Optical-mechanical switches deliver faster performance than standard mechanical switches, all in a well-built metal deck with per-key RGB lighting.

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