Gaming keyboards have become popular over the past couple of years with multiple manufacturers working to outdo the other with their features and of course performance. The market has become big enough that we have even seen the return of the mechanical switch (something that many were glad to see go away). However, as with many high-end products the demand for these in the general market is not enough to overcome the higher prices. Manufacturers are looking to still offer compelling features and performance, but at a more reasonable price. One of the keyboards in this range is the Thermaltake Tt eSPORTS Challenger Pro Gaming Keyboard. It has many of the features that gamers are looking for (backlighting, multiple profiles, USB hub, replicable keys, etc.) without the high price. So let’s get this $66 gaming keyboard up on the bench and see how it performs.
The Box and Goodies -The box is about what you would expect from a gaming keyboard. On the front it an image of the actual keyboard (complete with the hand fan) and a few graphics to highlight a few features of the Challenger Pro. One of the first things we noticed is that this keyboard is not a mechanical keyboard. We are not sure how much that will hurt the Challenger Pro in a market where people are arguing over which color of Cherry MX switch is better, but we do hope that the keys do not end up with a mushy feel to them.
Under the front flap (yes there is a front flap) is a quick view of the software GUI that allows you to configure the keyboard and some of its advanced programing (profiles). You also get a much longer listing of features here. The back is really just a continuation of the inside flap, but in more languages.
Inside the box you will find that Thermaltake has provided a nice bag to keep your new Challenger Pro keyboard in. They also have given you a nice selection of keys (and a key puller) that allow you to replace the A, S, D, and F keys along with the arrow (direction) keys and dummy keys to block out the chance of hitting the start button during gaming.
In addition to the replacement keys you also get a rather thick packet with two stickers, a warranty book, a quick install guide and a driver/utility install disc. Lastly there is a small cloth bag that contains the braided USB cable and the hand fan that seems to be such a big deal.
