Asus TUF Gaming K1 (90MP01X0-BKRA00)

Versatile alternative to noisy mechanical keyboards

Over the past couple of years, the Taiwanese giant Asus has been actively taking up gaming peripherals — mice, headphones, keyboards and the list goes on. Started with the flagship ROG line, then moved on to the more affordable The Ultimate Force (TUF) series. The heroine of today's review belongs to this line — a stylish and reliable gaming membrane Asus TUF Gaming K1, which is positioned as a universal alternative to noisy mechanical keyboards for gamers.

Excellent ergonomics

In terms of functionality, the model is fully consistent with its price and even gives a little more. Durability, which is the main feature of the TUF series, is manifested in several things here: an unusually thick plastic base (but you should not hit it on the table in a fit of anger) and protection from moisture. In terms of design, it turned out almost perfectly — strictly, but at the same time not boring and not pretentious. The highlight of the appearance is given by a massive volume control in the upper right corner, a pair of neat LED strips on the sides and the same neat multi-coloured backlighting of each key. However for the sake of beauty, Asus engineers took a strange step by removing the key markings altogether. The characters are illuminated from the inside, and when the backlight is turned off, all keys become barely visible. And this is the only minus of excellent ergonomics. It is clear that few players look at the keys during the game, but such membranes are often positioned as 2-in-1 options (both for games and for work), and not everyone will be able to type on this.

Removable palm rest and signature Armory utility

In other pluses of the model, we immediately write support for the proprietary Armory utility, which was previously found only in the company's premium products. As an alternative to deep customization, it is possible to record macros on the fly and save them to the keyboard's built-in memory. The detachable stand is also a very useful feature. It promotes a comfortable hand position and securely clings to the body, so you can move the keyboard without any problems.