Roccat Vulcan II keyboard review: A disco ball you can type on

Worth When Reviewed

$149.99

Finest Costs Immediately: Roccat Vulcan II keyboard

The Roccat Vulcan line of keyboards is all about one factor: being actually, actually, actually, ridiculously handsome. I referred to as the Vulcan II Mini the “shiniest little keyboard round,” however Roccat appears to have outdone itself with the brand new full-sized variant. The Vulcan II, notably within the white-on-aluminum colorway seen right here, is so gosh-darned fairly that it may make a Macbook Air jealous. 

Fortuitously the keyboard’s charms don’t finish with its appears to be like. Some first rate switches and extras, plus a worth that’s at the very least aggressive, signifies that its attraction is greater than skin-deep. The Vulcan II isn’t one of the best gaming keyboard in the marketplace…however for those who’re on the lookout for a option to bling up your battlestation, you may not care. 

Additional studying: See our roundup of one of the best gaming keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.

Roccat Vulcan II: RGB splendor

The Vulcan II is so huge, so vivid, and so stunning it’s truly distracting. Just like the smaller model, it makes use of “floating” keycaps with minimal sidewalls that allow the ultra-bright RGB LEDs shine via. Mix that with the white tops, clear swap housings, the super-reflective brushed-aluminum deck, and one of the best animation for lighting in the marketplace, and this keyboard is the one to purchase for those who’re nostalgic for laser gentle exhibits at your native planetarium. 

(If you happen to don’t know what a laser gentle present is, ask your mother and father, after which get off my garden.) 

The whole lot in regards to the board is ready as much as showcase the lighting, and it doesn’t disappoint. I’m not simply speaking about pure lumens, both. Roccat’s boards even have the smoothest and most aesthetically interesting gentle animations I’ve ever seen. By default the Vulcan II will gently transition between shades (lava lamp-style), but in addition react to particular person keypresses. Usually I disable this sort of factor, however the animations on this board are so fluid and so variable that I left them be. They’re that fairly. Even the standing indicators, illuminated just under the arrow cluster, look beautiful. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

What are the Roccat Vulcan II’s specs? 

So what else does the keyboard have going for it? Properly, it’s a full-sized, 108-key structure, so followers of the num pad will probably be blissful. It features a radial dial and devoted media keys simply above that, in essentially the most pure spot. Stated dial may be very “clicky,” like an old style RCA TV channel selector (man, I’m actually displaying my age with this evaluate), however can be pressed in to activate mute by default. 

The keyboard features a wrist relaxation within the field, an all-too-rare characteristic for premium full-sized boards. It clicks into the principle board’s physique however has an unlucky tendency to sag within the center below intense typing. The appealingly textured backside (you, within the again, cease that guffawing) has plastic toes with only one stage, however are pretty high-profile for that. And the braided USB wire is, regrettably, fastened—an odd selection when the less-expensive Vulcan II Mini’s is removable.

Michael Crider/Foundry

By way of pure gaming chops, the Vulcan II provides full N-key rollover, 1,000Hz polling (not nice when it comes to competitors, however admit it, you don’t have literal millisecond reflexes anyway), and onboard storage for as much as 4 profiles. Sadly you’ll be able to’t program it with out Roccat’s Swarm software program, which is unique to Home windows. 

What’s it prefer to sort and recreation on the Roccat Vulcan II? 

Roccat’s floating keycaps take some getting used to. They’re ABS as a substitute of the extra premium PBT, which is beginning to develop into customary even on midrange boards. However I’ll give the designers the advantage of the doubt and assume the fabric selection is one more determination to make the Vulcan II as shiny as attainable. 

That mentioned, the keycaps have a flat profile that, mixed with the slick end, made my fingers slip round a bit for the primary few days. I used to be capable of modify, however this keyboard undoubtedly takes a little bit getting used to, and I can’t assist however really feel just like the keycaps are undermining the gaming focus a bit. After all, nothing stops you from changing the keycaps with a set of standard ones…apart from the tears of the engineers who spent a lot time making this keyboard a disco ball you’ll be able to sort on. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Surprisingly, the Vulcan II does not get the customized optical switches featured on the Vulcan II Mini, the brand new II Mini Air, and the in some way even shinier Vulcan II Max. As a substitute it has to make do with the marginally less-fancy customary switches, which actuate with old style electrical contacts. It’s an odd omission that makes this keyboard the least superior in Roccat’s whole line…nevertheless it’s additionally far inexpensive than the equally sized Max, so I’m inclined to be forgiving. 

The linear switches on my evaluate unit are serviceable, if nothing particular. With the contacts on the actuation level they’re noticeably “bumpier” than the optical switches of the Vulcan II Mini, however nonetheless pretty premium with a much less chattery sound and press. The corridor impact (the partitions on the facet of the stem) additionally lend a little bit extra stability that the floating keycaps take away from the opposite Vulcan boards. Roccat says these “Titan II Pink” switches come pre-lubed, and certainly they’re fairly easy, however not as good because the super-fancy Kailh switches within the Keydous NJ80-AP. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Regardless of being customary mechanical, the keyboard’s switches usually are not hot-swap, so you’ll be able to’t substitute them. However once more, for those who’re shopping for this board for the sunshine present, that’s in all probability not a deal-breaker. All issues thought-about, I’ve to ding the keyboard for going with customary as a substitute of optical switches, because it’s branded as a gaming board.

Roccat Vulcan II software program 

Roccat Swarm is pretty middle-of-the-road so far as gaming software program goes. On the one hand, it’s utilizing the ultra-dark colour scheme all of them appear to favor that makes every little thing twice as exhausting to seek out because it must be. However, it’s not attempting to get me to make use of coupons. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Swarm does have essentially the most annoying characteristic I’ve ever seen in one in every of these: the power so as to add software program sounds to every key press. If you happen to work in an workplace and genuinely detest your coworkers, purchase a Roccat keyboard and set it to play Star Wars pew-pew laser noise via your PC audio system each time you hit a key. If you happen to can sort 100 phrases per minute, somebody will try and homicide you by lunch, assured. However this “characteristic” is disabled by default, so any hurt it does is totally on you. 

The software program does wonderful at managing customized bindings and macros, although as soon as once more, you’ll be able to’t re-bind the f’n Fn button (or the left Home windows key, weirdly). By default, Caps Lock prompts “Simple Shift,” which is basically a second operate layer. Roccat makes an enormous deal out of this, however since VIA and QMK have been doing it for years, you’ll be able to colour me unimpressed. Sure, you’ll be able to set it again to Caps Lock if you would like, however not the rest. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The lighting part provides a sequence of pre-programmed choices, that are all beautiful and way more fluid than the same old fare. However some are, frankly, overwhelming. I dare you to set the keyboard to “Ripple,” watch a full gentle present activate with every key press, and be capable to get work completed. However they’re straightforward to each apply and customise, and you may absolutely program your individual if that’s what you need. All in all, not unhealthy, particularly contemplating how light-focused many patrons will probably be. 

Must you purchase the Roccat Vulcan II?

At $150 the Vulcan II ain’t low cost, particularly for a board that foregoes some premium options like ultra-fancy switches, hot-swapping, or inner sound dampening. There are additionally some corners reduce when it comes to supplies, just like the fastened USB cable and a considerably plasticky construct, which might’t be overcome by the admittedly good inclusion of the wrist relaxation. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

However even at this excessive worth, it’s not the costliest wired-only board round — the Razer BlackWidow V4 is $80 extra with none large technical benefits apart from ridiculously fast polling, for instance. Corsair needs $200 for the K95 RGB Platinum SE, and its solely benefit is 5 additional keys. Each these keyboards provide a greater match and end, however not by such an enormous margin that they will justify the upper worth on that alone.

If you happen to’re within the Vulcan II, you need it for the insanely flashy gentle present it’s offering. I suppose that’s a suggestion.