MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL Review: Great Travel Gaming Keyboard

MSI’s Vigor GK50 low-profile gaming keyboard has been on the market since 2019, but the TKL model only arrived this year. To some, it may seem like sacrilege to get rid of the number pad, but this stripped-down version of the GK50 has undeniable advantages over its full-fledged counterpart and its competitors. In fact, this might be the best version if you’re looking for the right compact keyboard to complete your setup without breaking the bank.

I’ve spent the last three months or so with the low-profile TKL MSI Vigor GK50 and it’s proven to be a reliable travel companion. Whether I’m using it with my personal gaming PC or another device while on the go, I haven’t encountered any real issues yet. However, there are some things that I would like to improve in future versions of the keyboard.

Design

There’s a lot to like about the design of the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL, like the brushed gray metal top that contrasts nicely with the matte black octagonal keys. This helps the keyboard stand out a bit, and the lack of branding gives it a clean overall aesthetic, save for the somewhat subtle inclusion of the company’s dragon “G” logo next to the arrow keys.

The detachable USB Type-C cable is a nice sight, especially on the gaming keyboard, which sits firmly in the middle of the market at $84.99/£89.99. Not only does this make the GK50 TKL easier to transport, but it should also help extend its lifespan, as you can replace the cable with a new one if it breaks instead of throwing the entire keyboard away.

Beneath the GK50 TKL, you’ll find five rubber feet to help stabilize it when you passionately switch positions in Call of Duty: Warzone or quickly use your champions’ abilities in League of Legends. Needless to say, you won’t have to worry about the keyboard tipping over during high-intensity gaming, even if you unfold the retractable plastic feet to increase its tilt to 11 degrees.

Getting rid of the number pad gives the GK50 TKL a smaller footprint than its full-size siblings, but it’s the low-profile mechanical keys that more than make this keyboard look small and mighty. I’ll talk more about the performance of Kailh’s low-profile white switches later in the review, but for now I’ll say they have a great clicky and tactile feel. This will be fine for many, but you may want to consider another option if you’re in a general gaming environment or prefer quieter keys.

The only negative thing I can say about the keyboard layout is its font. The typography of the keys of the GK50 TKL has an aesthetic that is too “gamer” for my taste, but my partner had a hard time distinguishing some letters due to his dyslexia. Obviously, it’s not a big deal if you can type with confidence, but it would be great to see how MSI designs future peripherals with this accessibility in mind.

The functions

Don’t be fooled by the size of the GK50 TKL as MSI has managed to pack some incredible versatility into it. Let’s start with the most obvious feature: RGB. There’s the usual set of preset modes and a per-key custom backlight that can be synced with other MSI Mystic Light peripherals, like a gaming mouse. Plus, Ambient Link compatible games like Far Cry 6 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, They will be able to control the LEDs to provide more immersive lighting.

These are all pretty standard things, but I’m happy to report that it can handle a lot of RGB without the need for software. Using the Function (FN) key on the GK50 TKL, which MSI has stylized as its dragon “G” logo, you can control the mode, brightness, color, direction, and speed of the onboard lighting. At first, I didn’t expect to use these features so often, but of course now I take full advantage of these shortcuts instead of diving into the MSI Center app to make changes.

The GK50 TKL’s LEDs aren’t quite as bright as the Ducky One 3’s, but they’re easily some of the best I’ve seen on a gaming keyboard. Personally, I’m one to stick with a static color and get the job done, but find it hard to deny the quality of lighting here.

Instead of dedicated keys, media controls are also included in the FN set, giving you easy access to the usual set of controls for volume, skip, and play/pause. There is even a built-in function to start MSI Afterburner if it doesn’t start at startup for some reason, which I find very inspiring.

If you install the MSI Center software on your system, you will find a set of macro programs for all advanced users. Other than that though, there’s very little reason to run it other than to sync up the GK50 TKL with other parts of your Mystic Light compatible kit.

While it’s not exactly part of the keyboard, I want to quickly mention how much I’m a fan of the included drawstring travel bag. This accessory keeps the keyboard comfortable in my backpack when I move it between the office and my gaming desk, and it’s a big part of what makes traveling with the GK50 TKL so enjoyable.

Performance

So the MSI Vigor GK50 TKL certainly looks like a gaming keyboard, but does it feel like one? Short answer: yes. The GK50 TKL features low-profile Kailh White switches with 3.0mm total travel instead of the 4.0mm found on other mechanical keyboards. It might not sound like much, but it actually speeds up typing by 25%, which gamers of all skill levels should appreciate.

After many solo and competitive sessions with the GK50 TKL, I can’t say it’s been easier for me to rank up or overcome tough challenges, but it never bothered me. As the best gaming keyboard, it felt like an inextricable extension of my will and never visibly let me down in any situation. He also talks about the good implementation of the 6+N key switch, which naturally works best when it’s inconspicuous.

The ergonomic design allows you to use this keyboard for a long time in both gaming and typing. I do wish MSI included a removable palm rest though, just to give you an extra level of comfort. Seriously, it’s hard to turn down the support the Razer Huntsman V2 gives you once you get used to it.

While I can’t speak to the claimed 50 million keystrokes lifespan, I didn’t notice any noticeable wear and tear on my test unit after three months of heavy use (even in my backpack). . And despite weighing just 560g, the GK50 TKL is still surprisingly strong, just like the day I took it out of the box.

The GK50 TKL is an extremely capable gaming keyboard, but the 50 gsm operating force can make typing difficult even after using it for a while. This, combined with its tenkeyless form factor, makes it less suitable as an all-in-one solution for those who want to play and work with a single keyboard.

Verdict

I am thoroughly impressed with the MSI Vigor GK50 Low Profile TKL, it offers fantastic build quality and an incredibly versatile feature set that you expect from high-end gaming keyboards. At $84.99 / £89.99, it’s hard to argue what value you’re getting from it.

Note that it’s not perfect and hopefully MSI can fix some of the issues I’ve pointed out with the GK50 successor, especially the somewhat inaccessible game and font. Finally, while fairly easy to find in the UK and across the EU, TKL doesn’t appear to be widely available in the US yet. However, if you can get your hands on it, the positives far outweigh the negatives here and I can happily recommend this keyboard.