Pictek PC305
Can a cheap keyboard play with the big boys?
IN THE LAB, we often get the latest and greatest keyboards available to use and review, but what about the other end of the scale? We decided to scour Amazon to find the cheapest mechanical keyboard available on Prime that had over four-star reviews. We ended up with a $30 Pictek mechanical keyboard, which, unlike many cheaper models, is a legitimate mech-board, rather than a “mechanical feel” keyboard, which you tend to find listed slightly cheaper.
The first thing we noticed was its weight and build quality. The Pictek PC305 is far lighter than most of the keyboards we usually get our hands on, and as expected, it does feel a lot cheaper. There is very little metal involved and the whole board flexes if you try to twist it. When it’s on a table, it feels OK, though, and despite the ABS keycaps having a gamer-style font, they don’t feel too bad at all. Under the keycaps lie Outemu Blue switches. These are probably the bestknown cheap switches on the market. They are similar to other Blue switches, but they are slightly heavier, at 60g. They also have a louder, more obnoxious click and a stem wobble that isn’t found in higher quality switches. The switches are not terrible, though; in fact, unless you’re used to higher-end switches, and as long as you don’t mind the click, they’re fine. The PC305 does have lighting, but it’s just zoned, with some dynamic effects; it has blocks of color, rather than RGB, but this does give a good result, considering the limitations.
The worst part of the keyboard is definitely the sound it makes. Due to the cheap materials of the case and the loud Outemu switches, the noise reverberates around the case and creates an echo chamber for the pinging switches. We didn’t think it would be possible, but it actually sounds worse than our sample of the Corsair K65 we received recently—much worse, in fact. It is less than one third of the price, though, so it can be forgiven somewhat.
Using the function key, you can control media and volume, and also open Calculator, This PC, Media Player, and a search bar in some programs. There’s no software available, so the keyboard’s functions are very limited, and there is no way to reprogram it at all. Remember, though, it is only $30—some boards costing $100 are in the same boat.
DRINKING GAMES
All in all, the keyboard isn’t terrible. That’s not to say that it’s great, but it’s certainly better than we expected. We would say this is a perfect stocking filler or birthday present for younger gamers. YouTube and Twitch influencers are often sponsored by huge gaming brands and usually use $150–$300 keyboards. Younger members of the gaming community are likely the ones who are convinced that to be a pro, they need a top-end mechanical keyboard, too. The same youngsters are also the ones who spill a drink, or have sticky fingers, or claim “I went to the kitchen and came back and now the keyboard is just broken and I didn’t do anything, honest, Mom.” This is where the Pictek is a great idea. $30? You could get your kid two and keep one as a spare. Equally, if you’re budgetconscious and don’t mind the clicketyclack of Outemu Blues, or the problems caused by the build quality of a budget keyboard, then for the price of a meal, you can have a mechanical keyboard sitting on your desk. It is still leaps and bounds above the majority of membrane boards—in that sense, it’s a no-brainer. Having said that, if you’re looking to be really impressed by mechanical keyboards, maybe look for something with a heftier price tag.