Roccat Pyro RGB Gaming Keyboard Review

We were recently sent Roccat’s two latest RGB gaming keyboards: Pyro and Magma. The Pyro is more of a mid-range keyboard for professional gamers who are looking to upgrade while the Magma is an entry-level keyboard for beginners who wish to invest in a bespoke gaming keyboard without breaking their bank. Both of them had their fair share of pros and cons. Let’s look at the Pyro in detail.

The biggest proof I can give that the Roccat Pyro Mechanical RGB Gaming Keyboard is absolutely fantastic is that I’m writing my review on it. I just couldn’t let go of it, even after my gaming session on it was over.

Excellent Travel

Your hands will feel like they’re floating when typing on the Pyro. The travel on this keyboard has to be the smoothest I have ever come across. With an actuation of just 2.00mm, the keys on the Pyro are immensely responsive. The actuation point is when the keystroke is registered on the computer. I barely had to press a key to register my keystroke. Also, the keys are shaped to the contour of the finger so that it rests on it comfortably.

Moreover, it supports advanced anti-ghosting so I didn’t have to worry about how many keys I pressed down at any given moment. Anti-ghosting prevents the phenomenon where your other keys fail after pressing more than 6 keys on a keyboard. With the benefit of exceptional roll-over that the Pyro granted me, I didn’t have to worry about slamming down on multiple keys at the same time during an intense game of Android Asphalt.

Pyro hosts a life-cycle of 50 million keystrokes. Thus, the $99 investment may seem high but it is certainly worth it. Accompanied with a 1.8m USB cable compatible with any USB 2.0 (or higher) port, you won’t have to worry about Pyro’s compatibility. As soon as I plugged the cable in my laptop’s USB 3.0 port, it took exactly one second for it to show up and nine seconds for it to successfully connect.

Absolutely Stunning

Pyro is a beautiful keyboard. Hosting a plastic body with a brushed aluminum top plate, it boasts stunning aesthetics and gives off an expensive vibe. It looks and feels classy. Its company-branded AIMO lighting RGB lighting is ideal. It’s not overwhelming or tacky like in a lot of RGB gaming keyboards. Rather it is subtle and subdued yet interesting and vibrant. The colors are sharp and really pop. They also constantly change their shades and gradients to keep things interesting.

Pyro may be a heavy keyboard weighing 1100g, but this isn’t a deal breaker. Built of premium-quality materials, its slightly above-average weight isn’t only justified, it’s also reassuring. Though I would have liked for it to be a tenkeyless keyboard (a keyboard without a numpad). That would’ve meant considerably less weight and it would’ve looked more like a dedicated gaming keyboard. It would’ve also taken up less real estate on your gaming desk. However, the addition of a numpad extends its utility. For instance, writing this review on the Pyro would’ve been less enjoyable if the keyboard was tenkeyless. So, can I really complain?

Dedicated Parts

Pyro hit and missed dedicated parts. It sports a dedicated volume wheel on its top-right which I greatly appreciated. The wheel isn’t tactile though, so there’s no way of knowing you maxed its volume unless you keep an eye on your PC volume bar which isn’t the easiest thing to do during a game. The caps lock key acts as an easy-shift button duplicator and can be turned off at your convenience. This is an immensely well-though-out feature added to avoid embarrassing caps lock incidents in the chat box where it seems like you’re screaming at all your teammates when, in reality, you’re just unaware of it being turned on.

Pyro comes with a detachable palm rest. And while that’s objectively an appreciated feature, I found it to be loose and flimsy. It doesn’t go with the sturdy and robust vibe of the rest of the keyboard. I could have ignored its aesthetics but couldn’t have ignored the fact that it took multiple attempts to clip it on and that it still took every chance it could to come off.

Speaking of dedicated keys, I’d also like to talk about the absence of them. I was expecting the WASD keys to be special with some kind of groove, ridge, or unique lighting on them—anything that would’ve differentiated them from the rest. While not doing so didn’t make the Pyro completely worthless, the inclusion of it would have been cooler considering it’s a gaming keyboard.

Very Loud

Pyro is a mechanical keyboard so you’d expect it to be louder than a membrane keyboard. However, it also features linear keys so I was expecting a little less noise. Linear switches require 45 grams of force to actuate and the light touch makes them a good choice for both gaming and typing. Pyro is an incredibly loud keyboard. Playing real-time strategy games where my Actions Per Minute played a factor in winning, I was a little conscious of the constant noise I was producing with my sister working in the same room. If your roommates mind noise, you might want to reconsider buying the Pyro.

Should You Buy It?

Pyro is a solid keyboard and comes with a two-year warranty. Though a little pricey, its excellent responsiveness and stunning aesthetics and makes it worth the money. If you have limited space on your desk or a small budget, look elsewhere.