Review cover ROCCAT Pyro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

Product Information:

The mechanical half of Roccat's new keyboard duo, is the Pyro hot stuff or burnt out?

attachFull267658

Keyboards are to me as they are to many others nowadays; a brilliant passion, a quest to try the newest and the different, but also the familiar and improved. Returning to Roccat for the first time since 2019, I was excited to see how things have changed with their Pyro mechanical keyboard.

The long and short of my original review was that the keyboard was lush, but the software required to get the most out of it was not. Unboxing the Pyro, I get the same overall feeling of quality. The keys again sit atop a brushed aluminium plate, but the keycaps are a noticeably different style. Perhaps my favourite part of the Vulkan was its incredibly thin kepcaps, allowing you to see the lighting through the switches from the side; a bit like pudding caps. The Pyro by contrast is far more traditional. The keycaps are black and reach down far further, covering the majority of the switch. It's different to the Vulkan, but I've really grown to like it. It's not quite as showy, and for certain setups that can be a good thing. Still allowing for the back lighting to shine through the lettering and between the keys, your canvas for the fancy AIMO lighting engine remains just as versatile.

attachFull267659

Looking to the other aspects of the design, we have another full-sized model with a personal favourite of mine returning in the volume wheel. I wish every keyboard had a wheel of some sort. Outside of that though, it's somewhat by the books. The font used on the keycaps is clean without screaming gamer, despite it featuring a few extra icons for Roccat's Easy-Shift and Game Mode. Coming with the keyboard is a detachable wrist rest. It's a firm plastic that attaches with a clip system I've not seen before. It's nothing extraordinary, but always great to have should space permit you to use it. My only real critique of the design is the fact the USB cable isn't detachable. Though this may be a small gripe to some considering the keyboard is wired by nature, it concerns me that I'd be left with something entirely inoperable should that wire be damaged. I'd even take a detachable micro USB cable over this.

Review image Review image Review image

Beneath the keycaps lurks what is to many a deal breaker when considering a new keyboard: the switches. Sporting TTC linears, you have a fairly standard red switch. If you've used reds before, you'll know what to expect. The linear nature of them means you won't be hearing a click or bump as you type or game. Instead, you get a smooth motion for the key, with the only sound generated being the key physically being pushed down as you type. All the usual benefits of reds apply here. It's ideal for a setup where you don't want to be making too much noise. The actuation point for your keypress to register clocks in at 2mm, with the total travel distance being 4mm and the operating force being 45g. To my knowledge, these are all fairly standard figures for your average red switch, so there's not much that stands out here. Comparing the typing experience to my Keychron K2 I noticed the travel of the keys feel slightly smoother, but this may just be down to the K2's year of use. It's also worth adding here that these switches are not hot-swappable, so you won't be able to change them without significant effort.

attachFull267661

As with the Vulkan, the star of the show remains the AIMO lighting. I loved it in 2019 and I still love it now. Discarding the complex and fanciful setups of other software, AIMO lighting aims to be organic and intelligent, changing subtly as you go about your daily business. It sounds like a load of PR buzz words, but it genuinely is a joy to use. You'll see the keyboard breathing and slowly cycling colours as you sit idle, with lights dancing as you type. If you happen to use other Roccat accessories, you get to see a larger picture as the effects so fluidly leave the keyboard and reach them. I'm also in the process of reviewing the Kone Pro Air, and seeing it all come together is a joy. Naturally, it isn't without flaws, and its flaws are unchanged.

Under heavy strain, Swarm, the app you'll need to leave running to have your AIMO lighting operational, does crash from time to time. I will say that it's a marked improvement on when I was using it back in 2019, with it only really happening as I type quickly, but it's still a shame to see. I have a strong dislike for running software in the background for this kind of thing, so when I do make an exception, I at least want it to work properly. While it's just a matter of restarting the app when it crashes, it's an inconvenience I'd rather not have to face.

All in all though, the Pyro is a solid pick if you're in the market for a keyboard. It's a joy to type on and runs what is by far my favourite lighting system, even if it is flawed. At £89.99, it's also significantly cheaper than the Vulkan was when I reviewed it, and finds itself in a far better position in this rather competitive market. If you can get past the non-detachable wire, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Tech Specs

General

  • Linear (red) mechanical switches from TTC
  • Volume wheel
  • 5 shared media control keys
  • 50M key strokes lifetime
  • 1.8m USB cable
  • Gaming Profile

Dimensions

  • Height: 3.60cm
  • Width: 44.70cm
  • Length: 15.20cm
  • Weight: 1100g

Switch

  • TTC linear
  • 45g Operating Force
  • 2.0mm actuation point
  • 4.0mm total travel

Compatibility

  • Windows® 7, 8 and 10 (software support)
  • USB 2.0 (or higher)
  • Internet connection (for driver software)

Package Contents

  • ROCCAT® Pyro – Mechanical RGB Gaming Keyboard
  • Palm rest
  • Quick-start guide

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Incredibly premium look and feel
  • AIMO lighting still stands out
  • Detachable wrist rest included
  • TTC linear switches provide a great typing experience
  • Well-priced at £89.99
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Non-detachable wire
  • Non-hot-swappable switches
  • Swarm still crashes under strain
8.4
out of 10

Overall

The Pyro is a fantastic keyboard that gets better if you already have an AIMO-enabled device or two. It looks great, it feels great to type on, and boy do I love those lights. Though held back slightly by software and a non-detachable wire, it's something I'm still happy to recommend. It's one to check out.
I never played close attention to my keyboards and don't even know what kind of switches an of mine have. That stops me from investing a lot into a nice one, ignorance is bliss ig
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ottoclav
Review cover
Product Information:

Reviews

  1. Xiaomi has just launched its latest smartphone line, the Xiaomi 14 series. In this series, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is the top-of-the-line model, with a focus on photography and a dedicated Photography Kit to complement this focus. Let’s take a closer look!

  2. Obsidian’s Pentiment is part of a new wave of Xbox games coming to other platforms. Should you try to solve the 16th century murder mystery it presents?

  3. The second iteration of Supernote's compact e-ink notebook, we check out the A6X2 Nomad!

  4. Acting like an NPC has never been more intense

  5. The Aurvana Ace by Creative might look like your regular pair of wireless earbuds but it's the first to pack xMEMS’ solid-state silicon drivers. These are supposed to deliver richer, lifelike...

Site & Scene News

General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    K3Nv2 @ K3Nv2: Sorry for accidentally bending over