SteelSeries 6G V2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design and Ergonomics4. Performance5. Final Thoughts6. View All Pages

The SteelSeries 6G V2 may not be very innovative in terms of design but the lack of gloss plastics and gimmicks is actually quite refreshing.  Aside from the removal of the braided cable, the build quality is just as good as the 7G – and the plastic shielding on the 6G V2 is built to a very high standard.  The matte finish is sure to stand the test of time better than glossy alternatives and the mechanical switches will further improve its longevity.

Anyone who has used a mechanical keyboard will tell you that there is no going back.  They allow for much faster typing and also have a much better feel when gaming.  As far as in game performance benefits go, you're not going to notice much of a difference in speed and agility unless you're a serious gamer to whom every slight advantage makes a huge difference.

The reason that mechanical keyboards are much less mainstream than membrane keyboards is due to the cost of all the mechanical switches.  As a result of the cost difference between the two types of keyboard and the lack of widespread knowledge about the benefits of mechanical keyboards, the market for them is still quite limited.

SteelSeries seem to be trying to buck the trend with the 6G V2 by pricing it very attractively.  At a shade over £55 at IGLS, it is about half the price of the Razer Black Widow Ultimate that we recently looked at and around £40 – £45 cheaper than the 7G keyboard.  At this price we would highly recommend the 6G V2 as it offers outstanding value for money.  For those who have a little bit more money to play with, the basic version of the Razer BlackWidow is also a good option at £70.  The extra £15 buys you five macro buttons and the ability to reassign keys and assign macros.  It also has a different type of mechanical switch which gives a completely different experience.  If we had to choose, though, we would still opt for a keyboard with the Cherry MX Black switches like the 6G V2 or 7G.

Pros:

• Great value for a mechanical keyboard
• Cherry MX Black switches
• Built to withstand nuclear war
• Classic no-frills design

Cons:

• Lack of dedicated multimedia buttons
• No integrated macro support

KitGuru says: At last, a mechanical keyboard that doesn't break the bank!

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