MelGeek Centauri80 Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard Review: It’s (Inter)Stellar

As somebody who admittedly was console-only within the gaming house for many years, I am nonetheless often studying some new names within the PC {hardware} house as I proceed to make my last, full transition right into a PC gamer. China-based MelGeek wasn’t on my radar a number of weeks in the past, however after getting approached to take a look at their flagship keyboard, the Centauri80, you may be certain they’ve now gotten my consideration.

Even at a look, the Centauri80 is a board that’s going to catch your eye. However in fact, fashion over substance can solely get you to date within the PC gaming house, and for these severe about their craft, that is no secret.

So, with a premium value level and such a transparent emphasis on fashion, how does the MelGeek Centauri80 truly stack up by way of having a shot at turning into your new endlessly keyboard? Nicely, spoiler alert, however after spending a few weeks hands-on with this board, I’ve already made the swap and dedicated to this unit, and I could not be happier to date.

Out of the Field Nice, However Tremendous-Tuned to Your Liking

Upon receiving the MelGeek Centauri80, I used to be instantly impressed and drawn in by the premium feeling of the whole expertise. The field was expertly packed, I had no points with delivery in any way, and the keyboard field itself felt premium, fashionable, and extremely safe all on the similar time.

The outer house/sci-fi branding of the board is apparent even from the field, and I discovered it had that “additional mile” sort of contact to essentially drive dwelling that you simply’re unboxing a premium product. From there, it was your commonplace fare: a key puller, a startup guide, some swappable keys, your USB-C connection cable, some cute stickers, and a pleasant little bonus of a microfiber bag/cowl in the event you want it.

The Centauri80 would not have wi-fi/Bluetooth connection choices, so USB-C is your solely sensible choice. I do not care in any respect about wi-fi keyboards, however simply bear in mind in the event you do. From right here, it was so simple as plugging the board in, having it instantly perform, and being on my approach to complete customization/tinkering with settings.

Urgent the massive purple button on the Centauri80 takes you to the webpage model of MelGeek Hive, the app used for tweaking your board simply the way you prefer it. Right here, it’s also possible to obtain the desktop model of the app, which I did since I want having the shortcut on my dwelling display. In comparison with others I’ve used, the MelGeek Hive app is extremely user-friendly from a UX/UI perspective, whereas additionally giving all of the depth you require. Actually, that is my favourite keyboard setup/customization app I’ve ever used.

Nothing right here is loopy totally different from what you’ve got seen earlier than in the event you’ve had other gaming boards with apps as such: remapping keys and features, tweaking actuation factors, adjusting colours and lighting results, organising totally different profiles, and so forth. There are a pair cool variations on show right here, although. You’ll be able to arrange your board identical to some eSports execs in the event you please, tweak the management wheel and purple button on the board, even customise as granularly as adjusting how the app itself presents itself.

It is right here the place it’s also possible to regulate the options of the Centauri80‘s touchscreen, which is a giant speaking level. I’ve one other board with a display, but it surely’s not touch-enabled. Right here, I truly discover the touchscreen an exquisite addition, as not solely can you utilize it to tweak settings in your board on the fly, but it surely will also be set as much as function 4 extra buttons on the keyboard. That is extremely cool, and a breeze to configure.

One final shout-out on this part is that I used to be prompted within the app that I had a firmware replace to obtain and set up. This was completely seamless, and likewise gave me a pop-up explaining precisely what the replace was going to handle, and in language that basically any PC consumer would be capable of perceive. Once more, it is these “additional mile” particulars that actually go a good distance within the premium keyboard house.

Out of This World Kind Issue

Earlier than we dive extra into the nitty, gritty particulars and efficiency of the board, let’s discuss its type issue. The MelGeek Centauri80 is the best keyboard I’ve ever seen in actual life. After all, aesthetics are subjective, however in the event you’re a fellow sci-fi/outer house lover like me, you are going to adore how the Centauri80 appears to be like. It feels straight out of Star Trek, going as far as to also have a “USS-Centauri” plaque screwed into the again of the board. Methods to Win Me Over 101.

From the house grey design to the aluminum alloy case shell, in addition to the toggle switches/buttons and little messages on sure keys like “ENTER to the universe,” and “Again to the SPACE,” MelGeek appears to know the audience right here, and it is fellow sci-fi nerds that desire a extremely useful, premium keyboard so as to add to their setups that can be a tough 10 on the coolness scale.

I can also’t actually speak sufficient about how well-constructed this board feels, and that is largely due to the beforehand talked about aluminum case. I’ve different premium boards from different corporations which can be nice in their very own proper, however now all of a sudden really feel only a bit cheaper compared to how rock-solid and hefty (in , reassuring approach) the Centauri80 presents itself.

For the reason that keys themselves are semi-transparent, the sunshine present you possibly can orchestrate (and fully customise) on the board is a spectacle. There are, as you’d anticipate, a excessive variety of commonplace mild patterns to pick from, however you possibly can even synch coloration flashing to issues like music or in-game motion with sufficient tinkering within the MelGeek Hive settings, which is fairly insane.

The touchscreen can have the picture of your alternative positioned on it, and there may be additionally a lightbar that wraps round either side and the again of the board, which, just like the keys, is absolutely customizable with totally different colours and motion patterns.

My backlight setting of alternative is just known as “Random,” which does what it appears like. As an alternative of a set sample or chosen colours all the time displayed, my keys simply flash and rotate between a rainbow of colours independently, and it’s completely rad.

Geared for Avid gamers, However Nonetheless Unbelievable for On a regular basis Use Too

Which brings us to efficiency, of which, as soon as once more, I’ve minimal gripes to say. When testing it with quite a lot of mouse and keyboard titles, I discovered the Centauri80 a pleasure to play with. I will be sincere, I’m not an expert eSports PC gamer, so I will not attempt to provide the really feel of the keystrokes all the way down to the nanometer. However I can let you know that in comparison with something I’ve ever used before, the Centauri80 is correct up there with the very best keyboards available on the market.

The caveats it is advisable know are twofold, for my part. The keys themselves, with their clear, laborious plastic design, are just a little bit extra “slippery” in comparison with different boards I’ve mained, which could go for a little bit of texture on prime of the keys so as to add in grip and finger placement safety. The opposite factor is essential dimension, because the Centauri80‘s keys really feel extra full-sized like a daily keyboard, versus some barely scaled-down key sizes I’ve used on different gaming keyboards.

Each of those can very effectively simply come all the way down to choice. I like the texture of the keys myself, and I am additionally somebody that enjoys barely bigger/extra commonplace feeling key sizes. It was an adjustment briefly shifting from my earlier keyboard to the Centauri80, however I used to be again in my bag rapidly. The keys listed below are as responsive as my different premium boards, and naturally, you possibly can regulate every one individually within the MelGeek Hive app that we talked about earlier than.

On all fronts, so long as you are okay with the scale and format on a private choice stage, the Centauri80 merely feels acquainted, but thrilling and responsive. It is made me look extra ahead to my gaming classes, as a result of I actually do take pleasure in utilizing it that a lot. It is a magnetic, Corridor Impact board, however in a bizarre approach, it seems like a fusion of my traditional keyboard rising up, and one thing a lot extra premium, exact, {and professional}. I actually, actually take pleasure in that vibe.

This may not be related to each potential purchaser on the market, however one among my private favourite issues about this board is that it additionally features extremely effectively as an “day by day keyboard” along with an unbelievable gaming board. What I imply by that is, in the event you’re somebody who additionally makes use of your PC for issues like sending emails, writing, and many others., you may know by now that plenty of different gaming keyboards really feel form of… dangerous in these use circumstances. The important thing sizes are bizarre to sort on, they really feel flawed when typing as a substitute of gaming, and many others.

The MelGeek Centauri80 doesn’t have that downside, and as an expert author and editor on prime of hardcore gamer, this fusion of “insanely cool and exact gaming keyboard” mixed with “keyboard I truly take pleasure in utilizing for all the pieces else” feels each irregular and particular on the similar time. I’ve loved my time with my previous keyboard, however the MelGeek Centauri80 is what I am rolling with shifting ahead.

Within the sound division, it is not fairly as “clickety-clackety” as different boards, however the sound remains to be very crisp, satisfying, and feels good with every keystroke.

The Specs

For these which can be studying this evaluation and are merely begging for some extra technical info at this level as a substitute of my private “vibes” and impressions, let’s get into it:

• OLED Touchscreen
• Magnetic Keys
• Multi-MCU Distributed Structure
• Aluminum Alloy Case
• Actuation Pressure:35±10gf
• Complete Actuation Journey: 0.1mm–3.4mm
• Change Life: 100 Million Clicks
• USB Polling Charge: 8000Hz
• Scanning Charge: 8000Hz
• Latency: 0.125ms
• Adjustable Precision: 0.01 mm
• RT (Speedy Set off) Adjustment Vary: 0.01–2.5mm
• N-Key Rollover (NKRO): Sure
• Snap Faucet Operate: Sure (for quick stopping)
• Adjustable Useless Zone: Sure (0 useless zone supported)
• Tremendous Key: Sure
• Adaptive Corridor Correction Algorithm: Sure (for consistency and stability)
• Hotswap Sockets: Sure
• Weight: 1840g

And eventually, the worth:

To make sure, it is a premium value level, however as you possibly can hopefully inform by now, I feel the MelGeek Centauri80 is definitely a premium keyboard, and I’m having fun with it in all regards immensely.

There’s additionally the MelGeek Centauri60 to contemplate for these wanting to avoid wasting cash, but it surely additionally removes the OLED touchscreen and shrinks the shape issue down a bit additional. This one retails for $299 USD. Personally, I feel the additional cash is well worth the touchscreen for all of its performance, however that alternative is as much as you.

If you would like to take a look at the MelGeek Centauri80 for your self, you’ll want to use this hyperlink beneath, which is able to take you on to the keyboard’s touchdown web page:

MelGeek Centauri80 Product Page

For these trying to find a premium, amazing-looking keyboard, the MelGeek Centauri80 is completely price consideration. Its modern sci-fi-inspired design and aluminum development are top-tier, the MelGeek Hive app is a breeze to make use of for full customization, the OLED touchscreen is surprisingly helpful, and the board itself performs mightily by way of each hardcore gaming classes and on a regular basis use. In some methods, it’d really feel like an adjustment at first in comparison with different boards, and the worth level for entry is definitely not low-cost. However after spending a few weeks hands-on with it and acclimating to it, it is my private favourite gaming keyboard I’ve ever had, and I am actually excited to maintain utilizing it.

Rating: 9.5/10

Product offered by MelGeek for evaluation.